Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

8 reviews

___'s review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

Meh, predictable. There's a multitude of very cliche elements here - a small town where everyone knows everyone, the scary homeless man covered in scars, the son of a prestigious man, parallel and seemingly unrelated stories/events that can't possibly be connected, et cetera. Also, this is not a thriller. It's just a mystery. 

There's nothing really wrong with the book (though, poor editing got quite distracting at one point). There just wasn't anything new, thrilling, or exciting being offered.

(...Is the protagonist being a true crime podcaster a trigger warning yet?)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Bullying, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, and Drug abuse

noladawnreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Drug use

suzyh5317's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Physical abuse

rachelsbookishlife's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Violence

lou_o_donnell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

rebeccahensley's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence

daniellamariee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Misogyny

yunsq's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

a fictional novel that could have been anybody's true recount. this story reminds me of Know My Name by Chanel Miller. except for Miller, what happened to her was as real as it could've been. 

i listened to the book as i read it and felt deeply connected with the story. especially in the various courtroom scenes where the author did a good job showing the two lawyers' subtle, but an intentional change in body language, mannerisms and tone. this is my first time listening/reading to a book that includes the premise of a podcast series, and i would definitely be looking out for more books in the future that centres around it, even better if they are also available as audiobooks! the narrator has a charismatic and charming voice perfect for a true-crime podcast. i'd read more megan goldin in the future for sure

would've been a 5 stars for me if there were more pages dedicated to character development and how rachel was feeling after each court session. there was a lot of telling us what she did, who she spoke to and why she had to, but i finished the book craving for more of her inner world. her reflections on being a true-crime podcaster. towards the end (someone) brought up the issues of the ethics of true-crime podcast - i'd have loved to learn more about what rachel thought about that

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Violence