Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

184 reviews

lovesbug787's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Pregnancy, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Bullying, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

chris_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Violence

cam_cameron44's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism

chelle's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I am glad she did a sequel to “It ends With Us” but I did find it a hard to believe story for the most part. A little bit too “it works out for everyone in the end” for me. Atlas does not seem like a realistic character. Very Gatsby waiting for Daisy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

elisa_atkins's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.25

I loved this book. Couldn’t put it down. I liked it even more than the first one. Some people are critical of it, but I loved and appreciated the closure it gave readers. I fell in love with Lily and her journey. I love Colleen’s writing style because the whole thing felt like a movie. I am now having that moment of feeling broken that it is over. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse

awxhhlilla's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Alcohol, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Blood, and Emotional abuse

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

aeryth's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content

sophie______a's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“It Starts With Us” had so much potential. I understand that CoHo was convinced to write this for her fans, and I commend that effort. I was slightly disappointed that it just didn’t live up to some of her previous writing. It was a bit flat to me. 

Now, I wasn’t a fan of Ryle in the first book, so I was excited to see Atlas have his own story. Of course, I also wanted Lily to be happy and safe. There was still some tension and stress, but the drama was lacking. Not that I wanted more violence. I suppose there wasn’t enough rising action (or even a true climax) in my opinion. 

Again, I appreciated the author’s note about her why and her vision, like before. So, based on that, Hoover did exactly what she had intended. The story was more happy, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if there was just a little extra to make that joy impact me as a reader. 

At least the sequel didn’t upset me as much as the first. 🤓

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Addiction