Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

12 reviews

cassie7e's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

The sweet relaxing read I needed during a rough week (especially with all broody books on the rest of the docket!). It had me smiling at moments of quiet, indirect snarky hilarity and at heartfelt, touching interactions. It wrapped up neatly, though I wish we got to see more of the relationship resolution on page.

My favorite characters - charming Bomber, sweet Eunice, straightforward Sarah

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Terminal illness, Ableism, Death, Animal death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

Minor: Alcohol, Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

mysterymom40's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, and Ableism

olivianuzzo's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This is just such a nice book. A quick little read that just feels like a warm hug. I truly loved this!!! Perfect for getting me out of my reading slump!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Animal death, and Death

tatjanasbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Ableism, Dementia, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide and Death

_andi3's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Dementia

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Infidelity

ceruleanseas's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I read this for a book club and it was generally liked by everyone, myself included. 

The book deals with some very heavy events, including death, grief, dementia, and heartbreak, but in many cases, the author never quite gives the reader enough details to say definitively what happened.  I have limited personal experience with dementia and grief, but I felt that these topics were handled thoughtfully. 

I have no experience with people with Down's Syndrome, so I can't speak to whether Sunshine's character was written well, but

having Sunshine not only be very in-tune with everything in the world around her unless she was being totally oblivious to social cues, but also having psychic powers, was a little too stereotypical for me. She didn't single-handedly solve everything herself while everyone else stared in awe, though, and I really have no idea if her perception of the world is realistic in any way

.

I enjoyed the complex layering of the stories of the lost things and the main plot lines. I also liked that the author chose to NOT wrap up many of the plot lines in the standard way

not everyone gets a standard happy-ever-after, even if they do end up, more or less, as happy

but created a far more relatable story about grief, relationships, and healing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Animal death, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Infidelity

mnatale100's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Animal death, and Terminal illness

Minor: Cursing, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Alcohol

raven532000's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

It’s a good book, especially if you like the contemporary style. I like the symmetry of the book. I personally found some of the character interactions a bit forced, mainly because this book is mainly character driven so I thought there would be more flow to the interactions. Overall it’s a quick easy read that makes you think about how you live your life.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infertility, Infidelity, Dementia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Rape, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death

therobinjoyce's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-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

1.0

This book started out with lots of promise and I rather enjoyed the varying POVs and timelines throughout the book. The addition of the items' origin stories was also a lovely concept and the first half of the book really drew me in and made me yearn for more.

I won't lie and say I loved all the characters, as Laura's stubbornness and Sunshine's unwavering innocence and chirpiness really grated on me, but I did enjoy Anthony's character as well as Eunice and Bomber.

Other than that I'm afraid the book went downhill in my opinion. The whole inclusion of the 

spectre

in the latter half of the book just spoiled this book for me and the whole thing would have felt far more believable and compelling without it. Because of this, it felt rushed and weak.

The whole thing really spoiled the book for me and, though the writing was good and there was merit behind the idea, the execution felt too implausible and forced. As if the story and characters could not carry it on their own shoulders and needed some ethereal Deus-ex-Machina to propel them to action.

CONTENT WARNING: Death, Cursing, Infidelity, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Toxic Relationship, Minor Violence, Death of a parent

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide and Domestic abuse

Minor: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

zoebill96's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Such a lovely and moving book! Diverse range of characters and the first book I’ve read with Down syndrome representation 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Suicide attempt