Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

9 reviews

emilywemily6's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

For a light, spooky read for the season, this book had more depth than I expected. This book is about a character’s experience and growth rather than plot, and I found it really interesting with lots of insights actually. It was more gorey/graphic than I expected too (the curses were very creative). It took a while for the witchiness to really get introduced, so it had a slower start but the pacing picked up throughout the book. I appreciated how Annie’s perspective of her relationship with Sam changed over time; not a fan of him. I was disappointed that the co-dependent/slightly toxic nature of this friendship wasn’t really addressed beyond the one conflict at the end of the book, as we didn’t really get closure about how Annie chose to act morally in the long run. I appreciated the themes of empowerment though, and the vibes of this were perfect for October! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, and Misogyny

Moderate: Hate crime, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Eating disorder, Murder, Infidelity, and Vomit

oliviaclaire's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.5

I thought Cackle would make for a great cosy spooky read to start off October but on reflection I'm glad that I read this book after Such Sharp Teeth because I enjoyed that and I think reading Cackle first would have put me off Rachel Harrison. 

There are two main issues I have with this book. The first is that neither of the protagonists are particularly likeable. In fact, they're not at all likeable. Annie has moved upstate due to the abrupt and unfortunate end of a long term relationship. Her heartbreak and general depression are totally understandable, until you learn that Annie has not ever not been in a relationship since middle school and within those relationships she has compromised to the point of self-erasure to sustain them and even repeatedly ditched friendships for them. Annie is the definition of 'desperate' and 'unable to be on her own'. 

Cue Sophie, Annie's new best friend and suspected (it's really blatantly obvious) witch. Sophie attempts to convince Annie that there is more to life than a boyfriend, that she can be a happily single woman content in her own power. This sounds like it could be a significant improvement to Annie's outlook, if only Sophie didn't use threats, spying, pressure and non-consensual psychedelic drugs to achieve her ends...

When Annie does make the eventual decision to leave her ex Sam behind once and for all, Harrison then gives him a horrific character flaw that robs Annie entirely of her agency again. She had just decided that she didn't need him simply because she didn't need him so for her to make that choice and then walk in on him essentially two timing her means that she no longer just made the decision to leave in a no fault split because she was strong enough to be alone but because her ex is a dirty dirty cheater.

The second issue with this book is that aside from the unhealthy friendship between Annie and Sophie, along with Annie's general mopiness, not much of note actually happens in this book. There are some interesting moments but the plot doesn't really go anywhere. 

It was a shame as I did enjoy Such Sharp Teeth and I think I'll still read Black Sheep before making a final judgment on Harrison's books in general but Cackle was a miss for me. 

On a positive note, plus 0.5 stars for Ralph. He was very sweet and I enjoyed him immensely. He reminded me of the YouTube spider Lucas. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Infidelity

bluelillybooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Menacing, magnanimous, magic.

Annie is a 30 year-old teacher who suffers from depression after her boyfriend broke up with her. She moves through life trying to be as inconspicious as possible, while her mind is haunted by anxiety. Now that she has to move cities and live on her own, she is confronted with her bad drinking habits and loneliness. Then she meets Sophie, who carries herself with a grace and confidence that inspires awe in Annie. They quickly become friends, but if Sophie is that wonderful, then why are the other villagers always nervous around her? And why are there so many spiders in Annie's appartment?

I have never before seen myself in a character as much as I saw myself in Annie. "Cackle" describes anxiety attacks, self-doubt and depressive symptoms in such an accurate way that I highlighted some of the passages to show to my therapist. Not even joking. I've seen some reviews calling Annie gullible and annoying, but girlies that's literally how anxiety works *shrugs*. 

Without spoiling anything, because I think everyone should read this book, "Cackle" is about finding the courage to live life for yourself and all the magic in yourself that is just waiting to come out. Also spooky vibes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Bullying

Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Eating disorder, and Grief

Spiders

blacksphinx's review against another edition

dark funny reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying and Sexism

Minor: Blood and Infidelity

emoryjoy's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

The back of the book sounds like it will be a queer romance. It is not. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gore, Stalking, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Body shaming

Arachnophobia - there are lots of spiders in this book

maregred's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Toxic relationship

rivercat0338's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic friendship, and Infidelity

Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Bullying

bitterseason's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Body shaming, and Body horror

Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Bullying, Sexism, Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

aimzthereader's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

4.25

Didn’t like any of the charaxters, the spiders creeped me out, I got angry at a ton of the decisions… yet I still really enjoyed the book . The writing was really great . She decscribed loneliness, heartbreak, anxiety, depression, and unease very well

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infidelity