Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

5 reviews

sierrajhansen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

the relationship between priscilla beaulieu and elvis presley is truly astonishing—it’s truly a y/n fanfiction come to life, but with grooming and toxicity. it’s really interesting how you can love someone so much, even when they have done truly terrible things to you and stopped you from having a childhood that didn’t revolve around them. i’m proud of priscilla for making her own way in the world and making peace with the situation.

btw, this book scratched the psych part of my brain; throughout reading, i continuously wondered, “did elvis have a personality disorder?” much to think about. 

this was also really awesome as an audiobook—read by priscilla, i loved hearing her stories in her own voice, and i’m obsessed with the fact that when she would giggle at the end of telling a funny story from her past with elvis, they kept it in the recording :) made it a million times better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness

Minor: Rape

issyd23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Dying to see the Coppola biopic! The story of her relationship with Elvis is that of a dark fairytale. I am now repulsed by him. Also Elvis high key stole music from black artists 4👧🏻

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

noot_noot's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Eye opening

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Infidelity

sarahreadsalotofbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

I knew Elvis was a mess but I didn’t realize he was an abusive groomer.

He began grooming Priscilla when she was 14 telling her how to behave, what to wear, how to wear her makeup.  By the time she was 16 they were sexually involved and he had convinced her to take sexual photos. He was emotionally and mentally abusive, as well as physically abusive at times.

Throughout all of this he was also grooming her parents, eventually getting them to consent to allow her to leave them to go live with him for the remainder of her high school years. 

Priscilla comes across as someone with Stockholm syndrome finding his behavior humorous as she narrated this at times. She describes the time he raped her as “forcefully made love to her”. 

As despicable a person as he was, this was a well-written, informative book.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Cursing, Mental illness, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, and Sexual content

briski's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Ok so here’s the thing. I’m in my Elvis era. I’ve been in my Elvis era because I’m a slut for some Baz Luhrmann cinematic mania and for Austin Butler but PRISCILLA. The amount of times I audibly said yikes was far too many. The amount of time I heard the word karate was far too many. Who would have guessed martial arts would be what lead to Priscilla’s awakening moment? And while there were soooooooooooooooooooooo many red flags (none of which PP really called out) that ending really did make me a little sad. Things I feel are worth remembering

Elvis took PP to the morgue as adventurous little trips

PP took lessons from Chuck Norris

When PP met Elvis she had JUST turned 14 and he was dressed like a target employee eating bacon sandwiches with mustard

He rented out entire movie theaters and roller rinks

They fully stood up on roller coasters

He died at the same age as him mom

PP refused to gain weight during her pregnancy and they were banging up until the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy

EDIT I’m bumping this up from 3 to 3.5 because I’m still thinking about it. That doesn’t mean it’s exceptionally well written but I think it deserves a boost for how long it’s lingered in my brain. Truly the morgue stuff is gonna be a permanent resident in my mind. I can’t believe that was real. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Body shaming, and Misogyny