Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Fifty Shades of Grey

Manly okayish and repetitive smut (as expected) and not much happening. The kinks were a little too weird for me. He is just abusive and she cannot stand up for herself. She literally screams: „I am not like other girls and I am naïve as fuck, so pls fuck me until I cry. Still, I liked the books more than the movies, which I watched a while ago.

PS: I NEVER WANT TO HEAR AN „OH GOD“ OR „HOLY -WHATEVER-„ FROM HER AGAIN.

PPS: thank you for the book Paula <3

PPPS: despite my hate, I am currently 200 pages into the second book. Apparently everything about him can get worse (the kink and the gaslighting and manipulation).

Content Warnings

jayricart's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny slow-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

0.75

This book is nothing more than another poorly written sexual romp.

Content Warnings

danger_softie's review against another edition

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funny tense slow-paced

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

0.5

Never ending. Mediocre sex scenes. Literally nothing happens. Took me about 3 months go get through because of sheer procrastination. Go read better erotica on ao3.

Content Warnings

bookishcoffeedrinker's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

Uhhh Idk this book was just messy repetitive and downright weird. The mc is a pick me girl, so different from the others. The representation of BDSM is damaging and don't get me started on Christian Grey.

Content Warnings

fanboyriot's review against another edition

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sad 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

-5 stars*

Short Version:
- Unhealthy relationship is romanticized
- No consent
- Actually plotless and not in a pwp way
- Painful to read
- Repetitive
- Overhyped
- Barely changing anything—except the names—from the original??
- Lazy writing tbh

Long Version:
I feel like this was one of those books were I could go off on a tangent every time I hear the name. There are so many problems with it and yet there are so SO many people who read this as if it is the kinkiest, nastiest, amazing romance they had ever read. How?? Frankly it’s very vanilla, so I’m just confused with why people are saying it is so X rated or the worst thing they have read in regards of smut.

There was no—to very little—consent is given with this relationship, which isn’t really my thing even in fiction. I mean you are telling me that he made a big deal about what’s her face signing a contract (which was one of the only things that made sense) and then goes and hits her (without consent of course) before she signs it?? Makes SO much sense. It’s not like she sobbed to her mom after that—oh wait.

BDSM is about communication, consent, things are discussed before scenes are done. Limits/boundaries are respected and etc. this book has none of that.

This isn’t even talking about the characters I mean both of them were annoying. Christian only liked Anastasia because she reminded him of his mom. Yeah, not creepy at all… They both needed therapy, Christian most of all. Anastasia was one of those characters that “isn’t like other women” quirky, clumsy, nervous, shy, and boring to default. Christian was one of those characters that was the “attractive rich man who everyone wants” the “man” had severe mommy issues and he is praised for it almost, he has past trauma that he takes out on others, he’s really clingy, and manipulative, and selfish, and boring as well to read.

To be honest I hate giving books this low of a rating, especially when I find out it started as a fan-fiction, however, even the fan-fiction seems to be exactly like the original work, again with just switching out the names. How did this get so popular?? Do yourself a favor and just read the fan-fiction version on this if you what to, at least it’s free.

Content Warnings

nannaolsen's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

Content Warnings

jay_jade736's review against another edition

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slow-paced

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

2.0

This is Twilight basically, just minus the wolves and vampires

Ana is a horny girl who's main driving force is her hormones despite having gotten passed puberty. She think she's "in love" with Christian despite being only in love with his body and her romanticisation of his past despite him being emotionally unavailable and sexually not fit for her. But nope, it's got to be him

Christian Grey is just a sad man with trauma as excuse for being bad and one sided as a character

The only reason why I'm rating it 2 stars is that the ending gave Ana some sense and Christian Grey an ending that should have made him reflect

Content Warnings

crystalmd1998's review against another edition

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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

1.0

This is the worst book I have ever read. Christian is a toxic manipulative person and Anastasia isn’t a good person either.

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