Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Petlik tõde by Colleen Hoover

129 reviews

lisa_m's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

This book was crazy and I do understand why people love it. I'm not used to reading thrillers (I don't even know if Verity classifies as one?) but this was horrible to read. I was so disgusted and horrified by the things Verity described in her biography.

I do know, that I'm very sensitive and that books, that are as graphic as this, probably just aren't for me. Also I absolutely hate cheating in books. This book would have been so much better if there hadn't been a romance in there. I do understand though how it made the experience in the house more intense for the protagonist and how it made the ending more intense.

I don't particularily like Lowen. She was terrified even when nothing has happened yet and I feel like it was kind of unrealistic that she chose to stay in that house after reading the manuscript. I would have read the whole thing in one sitting, grabbed all my stuff and then left.
I belive she even says that the only reason she didn't was because of Jeremy. I have to admit that I kind of liked him in the beginning. He was nice to her and even in the biography he seemed like a fun and genuine person. After the ending though it kind of feels like he orchestrated the whole thing.

The romance was just weird. I feel like it wasn't at all a problem for him to cheat on his wife. Like I guess he says he feels guilty but we get to see none of it. I felt like he was flirting with her ever since he met her. (He even kind of admits that when saying he felt a connection to Lowen that was stronger than the connection to his wife had ever been in the bathroom! Like that was 5 min. after they met and coincidentally right when he sees her in just her bra? - I don't actually think that is the reason, still.) Lowen also did not feel like someone still grieving the death of her mother. The romance just felt like it was so disconnected to the rest of the story and didn't make any sense in the context.

I did think it was quite interesting to read the autobiography though. I generally really like different POVs / that every other chapter showed the past. It was disturbing but it was still interesting to see her thoughts. It's unlike anything I've ever read for sure.

I have been spoiled for the plottwists in this book but I don't think it took away too much. I think I would have expected it anyways. Also the letter in the end was a truly great ending. I do not like Lowen and the way she acted throughout the book but especially the end was just weird.

Some of the book reminded me of a modern Jane Eyre. I mean he's rich and has a child to take care of, he hires her and she lives with him, there is his wife (locked up) in the 'attic'... I do not particularily like Mr. Rochester either so I guess my feelings towards the two books are similar. (Jane Eyre is better though)

I did read it all in one sitting though so I guess it couldn't have been that bad. I was completely captivated. I sometimes didn't want to continue and get it over with but sometimes I was genuinly intruiged. I have way more thought on this book than that but I don't really want to think about this book anymore. I don't think it's written badly and I liked the format. The story was alright and I don't like the 'romance'. I get why people like this book but if you're sensitive when reading about neglected children and abuse be careful when reading this. I would definitely tell anyone thinking about reading this to check out the trigger warnings first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abortion, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

julianoward's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What a read. no really, i usually don’t often have a connection with books, but Verity gripped me so hard i could not stop turning the pages; to the point where i had to stop reading and put myself into a slump!! Now, it might not REALLY deserve a 5/5 since it can be improved, but i’m gonna give it one anyway because i’ve never been put into an emotional rollercoaster like this book here did. will definitely recommend if you like thrillers, romance (kinda?) and mystery. oh and, 18+ & check TW. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Abortion, Murder, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Grief, Medical trauma, and Cursing

Minor: Cancer

anniefwrites's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

This one was… not for me! I am not generally a commercial thriller reader but was willing to give this a try when my aunt loaned it to me. I am much more drawn to character-driven books, and I didn’t feel that the characters were particularly strong here. The plot was exciting and creepy, and while I tried to guess the plot twist, I was unsuccessful. But I think that’s because the plot twist was a little too convoluted to guess. As far as the writing, I generally prefer styles that are more subtextual and offer more imagery than this. And additionally, while I’m not a disability expert, I think this book fell into some common ableist traps of thrillers, as well as demonizing women who aren’t mothers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Infidelity, Abortion, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Blood, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcohol

annasbookreviews's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

bkmckown's review against another edition

5.0

That was such a crazy book! You weren’t sure who to trust, everyone was crazy in one way or another. Verity’s chapter were SO hard to read. As a parent, I felt physical pain reading them. If I were in Jeremy’s shoes, I would’ve done the same. This book has lots of trigger warnings: abortion, child death, suicide, violence. It is not the usual Colleen Hoover book but it was a fantastic, edge of your seat thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Car accident, Child death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Violence, Abortion, Addiction, Death of parent, and Mental illness

ejanephillips's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Miscarriage, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abortion, Child death, Cursing, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Death, Medical content, Murder, and Vomit

clairew97's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

• 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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Rape, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, Gore, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit

lexslillibrary'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? Yes

4.0

I quite literally read this book in 3 hours. I think this thriller/suspense with a sprinkling of romance might be where Hoover thrives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Abortion

Moderate: Medical content, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body shaming, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug use

things100's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious 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

4.75

Ok so welcome to a mind fuck of a book. Cuz what the heck was that ending. I’m still confused

is the letter the truth or the manuscript???? Like was verity lying did they kill an innocent woman like what the actual heck. I think I’m team manuscript but like I wanna believe the letter cuz I don’t want verity to have been that psycho

Such a great book tho it helped get me out of my 2 month reading slump. Definitely recommend  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, Child death, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Body horror

Minor: Vomit

wordinessa's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

1.5

I feel like most people read this for the shock value, but there are better books out there that can do that for you. This isn't an enjoyable experience, and definitely isn't for everyone - please check content warnings before reading it, every though everyone and their mother is recommending this to everyone they know these days. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Child death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, and Abortion