Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

55 reviews

lizzym126's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality

katharina90's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

A unique and creative premise but I struggled with the execution. 

The story felt very slow. While there was at times a sense of unease or dread, there was no thrill. The main character lacked oomph and likeability and the ending was dissatisfying.

The portrayal of office politics and racism in the workplace with all its micro-aggressions and gaslighting was well done though.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Racism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Police brutality

bunnypearl's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was both very informative & very interesting. The further you dive into the book, the tenser it gets at certain points, and I have to say that the peak of this story was pretty terrifying as a concept. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and got more & more invested as I kept reading. It keeps on you on your toes at points but lets you breathe in select others, which makes for quite the experience! Highly recommend to people who want to delve into books that tackle the topic of racism (especially in the workplace), or simply to anyone that wants to read a good book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship

The way Hazel talks about converting other Black girls into the sort of person society finds palatable is a great way of showing how POC in the real world end up "fitting in" with white people by acting like them instead of embracing their roots/culture/etc. I found that part of the story chilling in the context of the book because it not only completed the plot perfectly, but also showed how difficult it is for POC (especially Black people) to be their true selves in a world that favors whiteness as the ideal.

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial 

I think they did a really good job with the tv show on Hulu so if you want to just watch that, that's fine too. No judgment lol. However, this was just as gripping and tense as the show! I will definitely read more from ZDH in the future! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Racism, and Stalking

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Police brutality

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I loved this clever tense book but the ending wasn’t what I’d hoped for and left me a little flat. I would have liked to see more done with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

3readingcircus's review against another edition

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Racism

Moderate: Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Hate crime

sonygaystation's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious tense slow-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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Racism, and Stalking

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Cursing

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, and Misogyny

jj_tj's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Toxic friendship

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

oh, i really did love this book so much <3 i dont read many thrillers like this book, but as far as i can remember this is the only thriller-esque book ive ever read that ive actually been able to figure things out myself without plot points being either completely explained to me, or with the plot points actually having nothing to do with the book. i enjoyed being on the journey this book took me on because as i read it i was able to piece things together with the information we were given, and it lead to the book unfolding in a very realistic way. its also a unique take on, slightly, horror. its not really a scary book per se, but the reality of what happens in it is its own Kind of horror. this is one of those stories im going to remember for a long time because its just so well-crafted and written and, sadly, believable. the ending was also good, too; very worrying!!! definitely very worrying and made me sad, but it was also where i knew the book was going to lead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Cursing