Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

226 reviews

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

There is something about Sally Rooney's writing that just clicks with my brain! I've read many different things that try to do something similar, but somehow it doesn't resonate with me the way her writing does. There's something deeply (and sadly) relatable about each of her characters, and it highlights similarities many people have, particularly ones that we are ashamed of. Frances' inability to be honest with her emotions (and refuse to express them, then somewhat believing her to be superior because of it, only to conflict with her deep-seeded self-hatred) touches every relationship and leads her to make amoral, selfish, and insensitive decisions. She desperately wants to be loved and admired, and she hates herself for it. Did I particularly like her relationship with Nick? Not really. I wasn't rooting for them, but that wasn't really the point.

I can't believe (yet simultaneously absolutely can) the book ends with them starting the cycle all over again and getting back together.

They both have an inability to express their own thoughts that it is weird (and makes sense) that their relationship lasted for as long as it did. Everything each character did was a recipe for disaster. For the first part of the book, I didn't particularly like Bobbi. I oftentimes found her selfish and mean. Her relationship with Frances was so toxic (again, that is part of the point), but at the same time so sad because they do genuinely have great moments of friendship. Sometimes Bobbi misses the point when she calls Frances out, but other times (particularly that last time she does in the book) really hits the nail on the head.

I don't particularly think they should have restarted their "non-relationship", but it's messy and suits them both, I suppose. Although, the ending scene promises even more destruction.

The dialogue is always top tier, and the conversations on the world, privilege, and politics stood out to me as it was one of the things I liked the most about Beautiful World, Where are You (though of course I loved the constant opportunities to psychoanalyze each character the best). This is definitely a sad girl, hot girl book, where a mentally ill woman makes terrible, amoral, self-destructive decisions. I liked it a lot, particularly the dialogue, commentary, and writing style, but I wasn't obsessed with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Self harm

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Chronic illness and Miscarriage

coralena's review

I didn’t like the relationship dynamic between nick and francis. build on lying and dishonesty, it’s not what I want to read about right know. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Self harm

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Medical content

wildestreadsoffrancis's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

lailaite's review against another edition

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

oz2021's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Chronic illness, and Infidelity

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Alcoholism

ivmaurik's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness

komiification's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I'm not smart enough to fully understand this book, but it made me so fucking sad. Every single line was a poetic punch in my stomach. It made me want to die I was so miserable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Vomit, Alcohol, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Police brutality and Racism

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Self harm, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Medical content, Infertility, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

vertibravia's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Infertility