Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Ward D by Freida McFadden

78 reviews

fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The way mental health is portrayed in this is probably damaging to the actual community, but the story did get me. 

Frieda LOVES a last page plot twist, and the one here was very good. 

I definitely had some theories throughout, but I didn't actually manage to solve what was going on until right before the main character did. 

Again, I don't love the main characters this author tends to write and think they are sort of clueless and have no sense of self-preservation, but I didn't think Amy was nearly as bad as some I've read. 

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious 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

DOGSHIT!!!! Why do I keep reading Frieda McFadden when all she does is piss me the fuck off???? 😤 Maybe because hate-reading is a great hobby of mine. 

The moment a character found out one of the patients had a cat and loved them, and then referred to the tired, misogynistic & ableist “crazy cat lady” stereotype, I *knew* I’d hate this book. 

Then fatphobia shortly after? Second strike Frieda!!!!!! 🔪

Lastly????? Mental health representation was beyond problematic. Disrespectfully, fuck this book. Third strike and you are OUT, babyyyyyyy ⚾️🧢🏟️

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If there's one thing I love, it's an unreliable narrator and that's exactly what Amy is. I love that this book keeps you guessing as to what's real and what isn't, the sanity of the characters and who's lying and who's telling the truth. It was a nice quick read that I couldn't put down. And I just want to say justice for Mary, she was my favorite character.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

WARD D by Freida McFadden

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amy is a medical student doing her first overnight shift on a locked psychiatric ward, and she’s terrified - to say the least. When all the patients start saying the man in the seclusion room is going to kill her, and she starts seeing weird things happen, her terror increases and she has to confront her past to figure out what’s happening and survive the night. 

Freida is hit or miss for me, and I enjoyed this one! It was a quick read/listen, but I couldn’t put it down. I think this was the only book by her that actually creeped me out, and the stakes felt really high. I like the fast-paced nature of this book in that it took place within 12 hours, and was full of twists and turns. I did guess most of what was going on, but didn’t mind and it was still suspenseful and entertaining. Reading this felt the similar to reading Five Survive and Survive The Night, and I recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read to make you feel a little bit scared! 

Read this if you like: 
  • hospital setting 
  • high stakes suspense
  • plot twists 
  • dual timelines 
  • unreliable characters 

Vibes: 💉👩‍⚕️🧶🏥🔐

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph. 

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark emotional funny mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A nice spooky thriller. The main character pissed me off at times but it was still amusing to see her try and work things out. Twists weren't too predictable 

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