Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

28 reviews

framedflower's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Self harm

yourwordsalitmatch's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I loved the writing style of this book. I had to get used to it first but the way Sally Rooney writes feels very authentic and honest.
For the book: It was good. But there where a few things that really bothered me (hence the 3.75 stars). Mental health is a very big issue in the book. And I don't mean the fact that we learn about Nick's past problems. The main characters mental health (and also her dad's) is rapidly getting worse and it never really gets addressed properly in the book. Maybe that is done on purpose but I don't really understand why (if it's in purpose)? I was waiting for someone close to Francis to act or at least mention it. Especially Nick given the fact the he knows what it's like to be severly depressed?? At some point it almost felt illogical to me that no one ever talked about it. Big parts of Francis behavior (and development along the story) reminded me of the Bell jar. Maybe this is going over my head but I just don't get how mental health, self harm, suicidal thoughts, severe depressiv episodes can be such a big focus of a book without ever being relevant to the story in any way. I hope anyone understands what I'm trying to say here. It's not easy to explain what I mean. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Blood

Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

hannaheiserman's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.75

Loved the exploration of polyamory. As with Normal People, the protagonist and (main?) love interest were boring and archetypal — but intentionally so, I believe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Chronic illness, Blood, Infidelity, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Cursing, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol and Classism

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Sally Rooney is one of my favorite authors, and I loved this novel as much as her other two.

Conversations with Friends, follows 21 year old Frances as she becomes involved in a messy relationship with a married man. While it is not a traditional love story by any means, Rooney emphasizes the significance of connections to our identity. This book reminded me that growing up is more of a social construct and less of an age defining measure. Frances made flawed  decisions, as did the other characters, which really highlight the individualities and complexities which Rooney focuses on.  If you love in depth character analysis as well as a chaotic story of love and friendship, Conversations with Friends is for you.

*this is a debut novel, so pacing and writing is different from NP and BWWAY.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Addiction, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Classism

dannythestreet's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Cursing, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infertility

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Car accident, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Homophobia, Police brutality, Sexual violence, and War

lindseylarson2's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. Reading this story and falling in love with the challenges created by and for the characters was so easy for me. I truly loved their dynamic and the ease in which Sally Rooney explores their personalities, intentions, and minds. The book felt so effortless, which is precisely why it flowed so well. Loved the story and can’t wait to read more of Sally Rooney’s books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Chronic illness, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

ang_mendoza's review against another edition

medium-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

The character flaws manage to be both extremely boring and deal breakers for ever liking any if the characters. They all have very luke warm takes and for a book with almost entirely lgbtq characters, it really didn't feel like it had its thumb on the pulse of the queer identity. It's also overwhelming White and I didn't think the few instances of "self-awareness" helped.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Self harm, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship

kitty03's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual content