Reviews with content warning for Vomit - Under Locke

Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Under Locke by Mariana Zapata

9 reviews

hapalyn's review

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

About 3/4 of the way through this book, I knew my review would be (unfortunately) not... entirely positive.

I adore Mariana Zapata, and I've read at least four of her other books (All Rhodes Lead Here, The Wall of Winnipeg, Kulti, From Lukov With Love), and I know this is one of her earliest releases if not her first. So, I recognize this isn't really her best.

All of that out of the way, this book is pretty rough. There's redeeming qualities; the characters have cute moments and the dynamics are generally sweet on the outside. I think certain scenes really just had me jaw-dropped with how they were even published. Spoilers ahead here that aren't super life-changing but here's a warning anyway ->

After the fmc is slapped in the face and threatened at gunpoint by some Croatian gangsters (which don't get me started on the logistics of that), the mmc is obviously really upset. Totally natural. Tell me why, after they were both safely at home figuring out a plan to resolve the conflict at hand, SHE calms HIM down with a blowjob?? It felt very ridiculous and just like the guy was being too self-centered. I mean she was the one assaulted and threatened??

CHARACTERS: The mmc was kind of easily angered, I don't think he was an overall abusive character (by my standards, which I think are generally fair), but he had moments where his emotional outbursts would be considered abusive. The age gap really wasn't anything too insane (fmc - 24 ; mmc - 33?), but the fmc was treated like a rogue teenager by mmc and her brother (also 33). It felt juvenile. Like, the fmc is very infantilized (generally refuses to swear, calls 33 year olds "old" in a way that just seems ridiculous... most 24 y/os don't really notice or care about this type of gap, she's constantly lectured and chewed out in public scenarios in an embarrassing manner) whilst the other adults around her are relatively normal.

LANGUAGE/GRAMMAR: If you're a person easily pissed off by overuse of words in books (not catchphrases, just ... the same additives), you're going to be trekking through hell in this one. The use of "friggin'" instead of fuck or frick was like...... exhausting. The mmc uses babe/baby/honey a lot, which I figured was just an attempt at southern hospitality, but I noticed a lot of other people irritated with this. It was just exhausting.

FMC/MMC RELATIONSHIP: For a Mariana Zapata book, the character got together pretty quickly, which had me thinking "Oh, great.. the third act breakup is going to be so irritating and long and drawn out". Which, fortunately or unfortunately it wasn't. Spoilers again ->

FMC went to a dangerous rival club to confront rival gang leader, left unscatched. Keep in mind she's a grown adult. Later on when this blows back on her (naturally), mmc freaks out and chews her out publicly (degrading and embarrassing). She naturally is pissed off with his careless words, he is basically only angry that she's angry with him. It lasted a short amount of time (maybe less than 10 pages). Just dramatic and ended up with fmc feeling guilty for her rightful anger? subsequently apologizing... which was annoying

SPICE & MISC SEX STUFF: Compared to her newer books, this book had several detailed and graphic sex scenes. It wasn't really for me, but if that is what interests you the most, then there's enough to be somewhat satisfying in my opinion. However, there is the virgin girl with guy who's been around trope. It was really just kind of grating. She would feel insecure about his past hookups (which, I'd say is valid? I really think it is a natural thing to come up in this scenario and valid "concern" for lack of a better word, but he'd kind of brush it off and she'd convince herself she was being "dramatic") and it was just an unnecessarily subplot. Not to mention the fact that, if you're a feminist, you'll for sure be bothered by the slut-shaming and use of bitch/whore/etc.

CLIMAX/PLOT/RESOLUTION?: The way this book ended felt rushed. Around page 300, I was like.. "Why is there another 100+ pages to go?". By then we'd already had an established relationship, but then we had family drama + and unnecessary (in my opinion) gang plotline. The resolution between fmc and her dad that happened like 10-20 pages before the end of the book was unsatisfying, rushed, and just not even needed. It was unsatisfying all around. I don't think the plot (aside from the romance) in general was anything to write home about. If you're going to read it, read it for the characters or romance - not the plotline.

And as long as this review is, I can say there was enough "cute" moments to push me through it (I almost DNFed around page 300). I probably wouldn't reread this book compared to some of her others, but if you do have an interest in tattoos, bikers, etc. then maybe it has some value to you. I would never recommend starting off your Zapata introduction with this book, read her newer stuff. Despite not being totally horrible, there was enough to irritate me into not wanting to read this again.

trigger warnings & tropes (i get detailed):
- cancer (main character & side character's child)
- death of a parent (cancer)
- alcohol, bars
- hookup culture, sex, graphic sex scenes
- swearing
- brother's... friend? not best friend
- biker gang
- age gap (24 fmc & 33 mmc)
- deadbeat dad
- alcoholic dad
- pregnancy in epilogue
- descriptions of vomit
- (for all of those who regularly read mariana zapata, you know) there's fart mentions, shit mentions, etc. the typical from her
that's all i can think of off the top of my head

Content Warnings

bluejayreads17's review against another edition

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3.0

Content Warnings

marippe's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.25

Includes spoilers + talks of sexism

I feel very conflicted about this book. I enjoy Mariana's writing style a lot, it really lets me feel like we're entering into a real town, with all the local personalities. I feel like Iris' voice was very fleshed out.

Overall, I was finding myself extremely irritated. This book is extremely sexist, and I get that's the town it's set in, but our narrator and FMC Iris does little to counter this. She expresses when people are objectifying her and how she dislikes it but she does little about it in the narrative.
Rather, she expresses a misogynistic view of her own - slut shaming the many women around her. For example:

"A blonde woman in a very wrinkled dress that screamed she wasn’t opposed to public fondling."
"I felt like a drunken prostitute on the way through the hotel lobby and up the elevator with the two friends."
"Most girls my age were usually trying to take clothes off instead of putting more on. That seemed to be the story of my life. When some people my age were worrying about certain things, I’d be stuck tackling a whole different type of monster. Oh well."
"I bet no one else got to see his spare bedroom of comic stuff. Iris 1, Hookers Pre-Iris 0."

This "i'm not like other girls" slut-shamey bullshit was AWFUL. She feels as if she feels better than the other women just because she's a virgin and hasn't slept around. Her reaction to Luther's activities in the bar was odd to me, why is it not the predatory men going after women that are young enough to be their children? I get she doesn't agree with Luther wanting younger women, but it's not an equal blame scenario when the women in this town are basically second class citizens. I'm sad we didn't really get to know more about Blue, she could've helped counter this.

Dex was alright, his use of bitch to address women was a major ick and just personally turned me off. I know he's supposed to be a bad guy and sure he can be that bad guy, but that doesn't mean I gotta route for him. At least he's self aware, and he seemed to learn not to address women like that. His nicknames and dirty talk made me cringe tho.

Also??? why is it in books/media that people feel so entitled to know everything about each other? like being mad a friend held a personal secret. why is slim irritated that iris never mentioned that she had cancer? she didn't need to mention it.

Also also? The constant reference to refer to Sonny as her "half-brother" and how he's "not really her sibling" is very ??? That is your brother stop being so weird about it

This book had good potential because I did think it had interesting points, but it needed a lot more reworking and self awareness.

Content Warnings

michmoo's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced

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

2.5

Content Warnings

quietmarki's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

cariam's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

3.5

Iris Taylor has been dealt a really bad hand of life. From her dad leaving when she was young to a six month stint of unemployment in the present, she moves back to Austin, Texas to stay with her half-brother Sonny. Luckily, she lands a job at the front desk of a tattoo parlour; unfortunately it’s owned by the Dex “the dick” Locke, who is easily the most impatient and rude man she’s ever met.

Dex was a proper jerk at the beginning and while his character evolved throughout the story he stayed that way. I loved that there wasn’t this long back story to “why he’s a jerk but actually no he’s a nice guy” that most novels do for their main characters. I did find a lot happened close to the end and it all resolved rather suddenly, but on the other hand I do suppose that is better than dragging it out.

Content Warnings

sofiarmz13's review

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

3.25

Content Warnings

acelodie's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

nisha_nee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted 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

3.75

This was unlike any Mariana Zapata books I've read. It felt different, the setting, and even the pace of the slow burn and steam was unusual. This book, by far, has the most steam in all of her books, featuring three explicit scenes throughout. This was also the fastest slow burn (if this is still considered one). I did not expect this to be a motorcycle romance nor any involvement of gangs and mafia either. Those are not just my cup of tea and I think it's part of the reason why I have not rated this higher than a 3.75. But I really did not expect to like the characters very much?? Especially Dex. This was one of the long books and for MZ I would gladly conquer this book, but if I know that I did not like motorcycle romances, then why did I finish this in almost a day? I did not expect to like this considering my tastes. I did not like the hero at first because he really was an asshole and the heroine could be quite stupid, but I loved them, this couple, all the same in the last. I just don't know?

Content Warnings

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