Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

31 reviews

maregred's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Toxic relationship

modernmatilda's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

[Normally I hate being mean to books because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so I will only be posting this review here. Just because I wasn't a fan doesn't mean it's a bad book, just wasn't for me! I don't really intend this review to change anyone's mind about picking up the book or not, but more as a cathartic release after having wasted time reading it...]

Cackle is what you get if you order Coraline by Neil Gaiman on Wish.com....

The best part of this book was that it made for EXCELLENT discussion with our book club group;  what is the line between control and liberation, what are the boundaries between toxic friendships and empowering ones, what does feminism look like throughout the ages.

But the story itself left much to be desired. Loose ends, a "flat line" story arc, repetitive "I ate this for lunch, then I took a nap, then I did this" writing style, a dense protagonist, and an ending that didn't mean anything? Just wasn't an enjoyable read at all for us. 

Would have possibly liked this more if Sophie and Annie were a weird couple, but the sensual "dress me in silky pajamas and kiss me goodnight like my mom used to" was VERY weird for me. 

Wouldn't put it on your list of "Witchy reads". 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

bitterseason's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Body shaming, and Body horror

Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Bullying, Sexism, Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Sexism

Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Body horror

If you have arachnophobia, do not read this.

queergoth_reads's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I received this as an eARC from NetGalley but all thoughts are my owns. 

This is such a cozy little horror novel. It doesn't lean into the horror as much as I think it could have but it was a really great read. It's definitely the book is give people if someone asked about my taste in literature. 

Also as someone who is afraid of spiders, this book did a great job at endearing them to me which is quite a feat. 

<Spoiler> I do feel that maybe Sophie was forcing her world view on Annie a bit much but then I think most of the conflict in the book wouldn't have happened so probably necessary in this case.  </Spoiler>

I do feel like  Annie's dependency on alcohol probably could have done with a bit more serious discussion. 

Overall great read though. Very much enjoyed it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Grief and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder

sydbap's review against another edition

Annie is a doormat, a casual alcoholic, codependent, and judges people for ridiculous things. 
Sophie gaslights Annie and controls her. Just awful.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

msradiosilence's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Tldr; Annie is pretty boring and very annoying, but the setting and the side characters and the magic are…alright. 

Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/cackle.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Violence

lil_saddie's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

gummistovlar's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

larareads's review against another edition

challenging dark lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Vomit

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Gore, and Sexism