Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

11 reviews

oz2021's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

aseel_reads'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

We love a character assassination. This was so good and I loved seeing the events of the play be reflected in the novel, with their twist. The only reason why it didn't get five stars was because

Juliet was alive at the end, I think it would have been powerful to see the entire play be retold and Rosaline's beat efforts fail because that is what often happens in toxic relationships, people can't get out of them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

tiasreads's review

medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Gaslighting

el_thegoblinwitch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this title.

Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, but what about Rosaline? In this Shakespearean retelling, Natasha Solomons takes a background character who is often overlooked in modern adaptations, and twists the classic tale of star-crossed lovers into something wholly new. It's still a tragedy,  but from a whole new perspective. Solomons paints Romeo as a predator, and I have to say I'm here for it!

Romeo and Juliet is heralded as the perfect romance, but in reality the entire premise of the story (especially the fact that Juliet is only 13!) is rather problematic and full of red flags. I really enjoyed how these issues are explored in Fair Rosaline, including the age gap; Romeo's gaslighting and manipulation; and Juliet's naivety. It's a fresh take on a story we all know, and while the earlier chapters were kind of painful (knowing what was coming had me mentally screaming at Rosaline to wake up!), it felt so rewarding in the latter half when things started to come to light!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

magicsarah's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ettegoom's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This retelling of Romeo and Juliet brings the story into a completely new light - one that is substantially more disturbing than the modern interpretation would suggest.  It does make me wonder whether reading the play again might bring things to light that are easily glossed over in a time where concepts about informed consent are somewhat less valued than they should be.
I think I like this interpretation, although, as someone who loves the ballet, and always wanted to play Juliet, it also makes me wonder whether there is potential for this more subversive interpretation in the original.
I liked that Rosaline has a voice in this version, although the amount of agency that she acquires seems somewhat inconsistent with her status and state within the story - and the interpretation that she brings to her own, and Juliet's parents is interesting, although it could have been more nuanced. 

The depictions of emotional abuse, manipulation & sexual coersion of immature young women/girls is disturbingly accurate, as is the way that it can be difficult to 'talk sense' into someone caught up in this type of toxic relationship.  
An interesting and worthwhile interpretation of a story which may have been more akin to the original intentation than modern interpretations might suggest? It makes me wonder for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Incest, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

amobrien's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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

4.5

As a lifelong Romeo hater, I am kind of obsessed with this book. It's a sort of Romeo and Juliet untelling - it took the characters and story we all know and added context in a feminist perspective. In the original text, Rosaline is a bit of throw away character, mentioned a few times in referencing Romeo's former infatuation before Juliet but not given much depth at all. Natasha Solomons takes this character and adds nuance. Do you remember how you felt when you first learned how young Juliet was, especially in comparison to Romeo and Count Paris? Solomons basically takes that feeling and makes a whole story out of it. If you loved Hamnet and/or Hester, definitely check this one out!

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

lct's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Pedophilia and Death of parent

Minor: Self harm

swhence's review

mysterious

• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

pagesbycaroline's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

 Such a captivating story! I found this ARC at my local library and was so excited to read it before its release date! I love the spin on this classic story and the honest look at the romance between Juliet and Romeo. It was so refreshing to read a story that paints it not as a dream, but a nightmare in disguise. Rosaline is strong and independent, but she makes the same mistakes many girls fall into at one time or another. The feminist perspective was a bit much, specifically for the time period the story takes place, but it was muted enough not to be a distraction to the plot or character development.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy