Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

21 reviews

tlikestoread's review

mysterious sad

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

cindas_books's review

emotional informative mysterious reflective relaxing tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Blood, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

booksjessreads's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was quite confusing in places, and honestly, the multi-perspective style and the constant switch between first- and third-person narratives just didn't compel me to keep reading in places. There is a character list at the front of this book, thankfully. Sometimes, all the different perspectives were too much, although it was a good way to gain insights into all the different suspects and people involved with Nel's murder. 

It was quite satisfying to get to the end and find out who was responsible, and it certainly wasn't someone I was expecting, but the style of the book definitely confused matters, and unless you like this kind of style, I wouldn't recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Rape, and Suicide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Body shaming

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Child death

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Blood

Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism

a_knife5577's review

dark mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

3.25

Don't get me wrong: the book is written with an interesting use of prose that seems almost alluring to the reader. The writing is good, the story is interesting and the "twist" is well set up (even if it's not the most shocking one).

Characters, however, were the problem. It is very hard to make the main character seem like an actual human being that could exist outside of the novel. It is almost impossible to do so when the cast of main characters consists of more than a dozen people. Lena, Jules, Mark, Patrick, Helen, Sean, Nickie, Erin, Josh, Louise. Chapters of the fictional book from perspectives of Libby, Nel, Anne, Lauren and Katie. There should be fewer narrations is all I'm saying. I found myself forced to look back and constantly check which character was which and it felt exhausting.

The pacing is confusing. On one hand, it's nicely set up and it all comes together at the right points. On the other hand, midway through the book, I found myself to be extremely bored as I felt like everything was repeating. "Haven't I read that already?" or "wait, wasn't that revelation already revealed?" were the thoughts that constantly flew through my mind.

Is the book worth reading? Sure. Will I pick up another publication by Paula Hawkins? I wouldn't be against it. Will I recommend this book to any of my friends with passion? Probably not.

Also, if I took a shot every time there is a water metaphor I would be dead. That's all 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Rape

Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming

bookfann's review

dark mysterious tense

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Misogyny

lordofdisorder's review

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Violence

Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Dementia, Excrement, and Vomit

alicialoebl's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Large cast of characters was a little confusing at first but the story had a lot of twists and turns and kept you guessing until the end, I like the relation of the river and "difficult women" 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Body shaming

nataliakolozsvari's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Paula Hawkins is a godess. I have read The Girl on the Train a few years ago, and I was in love with it. Well, this book is even better! It keeps you guessing until the last page, every chapter brings something new to the table. This is the perfect thriller for me, I'd love to read more like this!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Animal death and Terminal illness

Minor: Police brutality and Toxic relationship

jench391's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship