Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

32 reviews

dfriend12's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 ⭐️

Similar to Yellowface, I very much enjoyed this one without really liking a single character. Everyone is a bit too much of whatever they are but it works. The amplified emotion from the POVs you read make everything a little extra heightened and it works. The exaggeration to the point of killing. 

Loved the twist about halfway through the book. Made it much more interesting to see the full story come together. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Blood

smokeyphynix's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Rape

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I would like to personally thank this book for busting me out of the worst reading slump I've been in so far this year. It was brought on by some drama in my personal life that kind of made picking up most books unbearable, but it turned out all I needed was this sapphic tale of revenge to get me back to myself. This book was immersive and morally complex and I enjoyed every minute of it! The writing was believable and smart without being too complicated and the pacing was excellent. Absolutely a new fave.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Rape, Gun violence, and Vomit

allygirl32's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

To go along with the content warnings; there is explicit mention of all of those things, though it is told through a female lens and dealt with quite well; there are infuriating moments that are there purposefully to illustrate examples of very real things that happen to survivors of SA and other violence/abuse

katikins's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A little slow to start, but once the ball got rolling I couldn’t put it down!  An academic, sapphic Dexter. Incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault and Gaslighting

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.5

A serial killer FMC with a thirst for justice with a dark academia setting? Excellent 👏🏼 A 4.5 star read for me. The dual POVs were well done and the twists were *chef's kiss*. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Gore, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol

kitandink's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

well! 

also, hell of a plot twist

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Suicide, Biphobia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, and Grief

Minor: Toxic friendship, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Vomit

zombiezami's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Sexism, Rape, Death, Violence, and Gore

Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Biphobia, Medical content, and Vomit

Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent

enyltiak's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It's really fun to be inside the head of a serial killer like Scarlett—someone I truly sympathize with, understand her motivations, and root for. I don't even want to call her deplorable. Questionable, sure. But fascinating and an intriguing protagonist. Carly and her storyline were a little less enthralling to follow... at least for the first half. The plot twist mid-way through the book

where you find out that Carly is Scarlett, and that that portion of the novel is set in the past

really shifted the direction of that plot and built up the intrigue. This book isn't a literary masterpiece or anything, but it is fun and an exciting read. 

I think there's plenty to unpack in the feminism of the novel and the way that race and sexuality and class intersects with misogyny could certainly have been unpacked, but... ultimately I just don't think that's something this book meant to do; it's dealing more with the impact of sexual assault and the lack of response and support for girls and women who face various violence at the hands of men. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Gaslighting

melchncookies's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

What a great, terrible and scary story! There’s a couple really great twists that I didn’t quite see coming. The narrators were perfect choices for the audiobook. 

Carly is a good girl who discovers sexual freedom. Scarlett is fantastic feminist serial killer. Eventually their worlds collide, but not in the way you’d expect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Death, Adult/minor relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Gore, Infidelity, and Death of parent