Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

38 reviews

onceandfuturereads's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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? No

2.0

I picked this book up at little free library because I was intrigued by the true crime angle. In a word, this book is predictable. It's also just not well written. If I had to read "her shoulder length auburn hair" one more time I was going to start yelling. It wasn't so much the plot as the dialogue that was unbelievable to me (though the plot was...laughable). The cryptic letters that Hannah writes to Rachel, her podcast hero, are written in a way that nobody actually writes. Same with the dialogue. I wouldn't have cared so much because I know it's supposed to be a fun mystery, but it really took me out of the story. 

Furthermore, there are ethical problems with this story. The author clearly drew inspiration from the rape trial that made headlines when Chanel Miller made her victim impact statement as Emily Doe. Scott Blair, Gildon's antagonist, is a reproduction of Brock Turner, even in the final few pages. I was hoping to see an acknowledgement of Chanel Miller, or other survivors, but...nothing!

I am being generous in giving this book 2 stars, and that is because the true crime podcast was a cool idea and I haven't seen it done before.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Rape

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts

armstrongangela83's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny

Moderate: Murder, Child death, Pedophilia, and Domestic abuse

julienicole1106's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Torture

missblissreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug abuse

sara824's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Stalking, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming

Minor: Mental illness

bookreadingelf's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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

3.5

Night swim follows a true crime postcaster who follows a rape case. While she is in the town, she receives letters which ask her to help with an old case.  I found it a little bit predictable, but else it was fine.

I would recommend listening to this book as that goes really well with the podcast parts.

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

laurrelise's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Bullying

ksalquida's review

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Rape

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

daniellamariee's review

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

---

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

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

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