Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Sisareni, sarjamurhaaja by Oyinkan Braithwaite

18 reviews

thee_eclectic_eccentric's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Infidelity

gwenswoons's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Medical content

tiddlerrr's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective fast-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

Very interesting, and an incredible depiction of how complicated familial (particularly sisterly) relationships can be. The narrator is simultaneously fiercely protective and adores her younger sister but seems to hold a lot of contempt and resentment for her and struggles with holding both of those things within herself. I also loved Korede’s friendship with Muhtar!

Not the sort of book I expected it to be when I first picked it up but I was pleasantly surprised by it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Toxic friendship

te_ss_i's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Toxic friendship

izzybell's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

fraise's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Drug use, and Animal death

particledamage's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

2.5

I've seen this book described as biting satire but while it was abundant in commentary--on colorism and beauty standards, on misogyny, on codependency and the construction of the family unit, on wealth--it feels more like "satire" here just means "Everyone is one-dimensional to make a point" rather than anything more biting, nuanced, or funny.

The book goes at a break neck pace but only because of its short chapters and time jumps, not because anything meaningful actually happens or changes. You see everything coming; it's easy to see that that may be intentional but ultimately that changes nothing, you still want to just skip ahead to have it confirmed. There is little to be lost if your eyes glaze over waiting for confirmation rather than taking in what little story this book has to offer.

That said, this book is oozing with potential. The sisterly relationship--and sometimes lack thereof--is compelling and I would have loved to seen it explored more with two fully realized characters. The idea of them both ultimately being their sister's keeper is interesting but when the story is so rote, you never see the boundaries of that relationship tested in any meaningful way. The high takes of this story and their relationship feels much like jumping out of a third story window except you're wearing a safety harness and a bungee rope, knowing you'll never hit the ground.

I think if this book committed more to being a short story, I could forgive its shallowness and lack of peak a bit more. But instead this book half-commits to being a full story and loses its steam halfway through, overextending itself with details that don't add much to the moral questions its asking (and sometimes answering). 

Still, the premise alone is so refreshing and new I can't resent it for not reaching the highs I wanted it to.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Blood, Classism, Pedophilia, Violence, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent

nojerama's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow this book moved at breakneck speed I literally read it in one day. Absolutely gripping and so much of Korede's feelings towards her sister and other women in her life resonated with me so much. Absolutely loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Stalking

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Police brutality and Medical content

saraellenme's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Blood, and Toxic friendship