Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Elämäni seinäruusuna by Stephen Chbosky

182 reviews

_rosy_'s review against another edition

dark inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Physical abuse, Death, and Toxic relationship

lenorayoder's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I first read this book in high school and remember loving it. I decided to grab it from the library again because I was in the mood for something pensive and kind of sad and wanted to see if it held up as an adult. Boy, does it. This book is fantastic. Though the impact is different from when I was Charlie's age, this book is still so influential and offers so much with both its content and style. Weirdly, reading this book makes me feel inspired to write and like when I do so it will be better for having read this. Not that you could tell from the quality of this review!

I think this is one of those books you should definitely read at least once as a teen. As an adult I was definitely reacting differently to some moments -

for the love of god, why would you give a kid who's obviously having mental/emotional difficulties LSD! Even as a high school senior, you should know that's a no no

- but Chbosky and Charlie still draw me in. This book really elicits emotional reactions, and is best enjoyed on a quiet evening by yourself so you can really take your time to read between the lines and feel.

It's kind of ridiculous how many content warnings I just applied to this book, but I also think that's one of the reasons this is an important read for teens. That this book is written in the form of letters helps lower the intensity of these subjects/make them easier for the reader to handle, but things still get pretty emotional. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Rape, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, and Homophobia

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Car accident, Incest, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Gun violence

sunshineera's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

The book was underwhelming for me. This might be because I had watched the movie first but I felt like there was much left to desire at the end, maybe this was intentional but this book was a let down which is disappointing for such a hyped up book. There was also so much information for what in my opinion is a short book that felt unimportant in hindsight and didn't really add to to the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug use, and Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion, Racial slurs, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

andst's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I feel like this book really encaptures self-improvement during high school. How, at that age, we feel aimless, worthless, unlikable and inadequate. How we tirelessly look for a sense of belonging and how somehow it's never enough. It's depressing, stressful, and deeply relatable. 
Throughout the book Charlie experience a sense of hopelessness while he sees the world (and the people) around him break down into pieces, just to realize that he cannot do anything to fix them no matter how much he tries. All the characters come with their own set of problems and we can see how these problems consume Charlie completely, even if they don't belong to him. Which is something some of us can deeply relate to.
This book makes you feel seen and understood. It encourages you embrace those around you despite their flaws, because we are not perfect either. We are all trying to get through life one day at a time, might as well just do it along those you care for.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Outing, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Car accident and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide attempt

lem_katt's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Outing, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, and Drug use

c3c1lia_1's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Mental illness, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

goldnhabitx's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child death, Violence, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Rape, and Infidelity

greentea14_s's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

I like how it brought up important topics but it was a bit like torture to read especially near the end when it was being dragged on for so long.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Homophobia

butlerebecca's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

Top tier YA even after all these years

It was interesting reading this for the first time as an adult and reflecting on the themes and plot-points I couldn’t quite understand at 14

Specifically noticed what a beautiful reflection this is on masculinity 

Also 1) Logan Lerman really did nail it aaaand 2) I have to read Catcher in the Rye again now 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Homophobia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Incest, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abortion

gillianraye's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault