Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

170 reviews

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

“And what for? For liking Mungo Hamilton, the ruiner of all good things.“

I have never felt so absolutely gutted after finishing a book, nor have I wanted to give a character a hug as much as Mungo. Stuart writes such a devastating story of a sweet soul who deserved so much more than what he was given. After checking trigger warnings, I would highly recommend, this is a new favorite for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Outing, Murder, Homophobia, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, and Pedophilia

archiedh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

Heart-wrenching and often extremely difficult to read, Young Mungo is a gut punch of a book, unflinchingly detailing gang violence, poverty, and homophobia in 80s Glasgow. 
Stuart’s description is lyrical and evocative, able to conjure every speck of dirt in a scene and make it feel as though it is stuck to your skin or caked under your nails. The characterisation is wonderful with even minor players feeling fully realised and more nuanced than they might initially appear. Standouts are easily Jodie and Chickie Calhoun. 
And at the centre of it, we have James and Mungo. The scenes with them offer a respite from the horror, tactile, intimate, and romantic. Stuart captures blossoming romance almost scarily well. 
It is by no means a light or fun read, some chapters even feel pulled out of a horror novel, but it is deeply affecting and a book I can see myself thinking about for a long while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Abortion

mazzie's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence

msteasam's review against another edition

4.5

Well fuck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Rape

reecemar22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

ellagrady's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Pedophilia, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, and Violence

parboiledlentils's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Blood

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship

emilybr's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Heart wrenching, the characters are wonderfully complex and the book managed to tell such an intricate story in under 400 pages. It is not a joyful story, the events Mungo and those around him go through are horrific but so incredibly believable, once i started reading i couldn’t stop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Racism

raccoonroost's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

for how much mungo went through, not giving him an actual happy ending and only making it open ended is pissing me off... i cant give it a 5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Alcoholism, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

ellymc's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Violence