Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

14 reviews

jelkebooks's review

mysterious relaxing 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? Yes

3.0

You know, at the start of this book I was quite liking this book. I honestly thought the set up was really interesting, and the whole situation made me really sad for Hattie. I think the start of this book really makes you sympathize with both main characters, but especially her because she's way less in control of the situation. I just thought it was very different from most historical romances I've read, and I just thought it was really well executed as well.
However, then we go to Scotland, we actually have these two characters fall for each other, and this book just completely lost me. I don't know, Hattie became kind of whiny. She also felt extremely out of touch with reality, even if she was trying to do the right thing. She kind of gave me the ick. Contrary to popular opinion though I also did not like Lucian, like at all. He was so close to being a massive red flag for me. He was just such an ass, and his tragic backstory really did not excuse his behaviour, in my opinion. I also feel like at no point throughout this book did he ever respect Hattie. It just made me feel a bit disgusted. I can't buy a romance when it feels like the male main character does not respect the female main character in the slightest.
So yeah, needless to say I didn't get into the romance either. I just didn't think they had any chemistry. I barely understand what they even saw in each other. I guess that opposites attract but these two had absolutely nothing in common with each other, and I truly don't see them ever actually working out together. Like mentioned before I also feel like there was an extreme lack of respect coming from his side, and that just never fares well for a relationship.
The ending of this book was also just terrible. It get really intense out of nowhere, for no real reason. It felt extremely out of place. I didn't get it. On top of that we also got a third act breakup that was almost immediately resolved, making the timing feel so extremely off.  It just really wasn't well written in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, and Ableism

Minor: Suicide and Sexual assault

haley49's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

So, so good. Everything about this story was well paced and earned. I loved the discussion about women’s rights, class rights, and economics. It was refreshing to have Hattie care so much for her cause while also having hobbies and interests outside of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Ableism, Alcoholism, Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Suicide

phippa's review

medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide

Minor: Pedophilia, Grief, Alcohol, and Addiction

bexi's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Ableism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders

baearles's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Classism, Death, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Child death

Minor: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Suicide

_alyssar_'s review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Classism, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Death

Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Sexism

amobrien's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Death, Child death, Death of parent, and Grief

izzyf16's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Gun violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child death, and Suicide

luckykosmos's review

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

My favorite of the books so far, the most believable dynamic as well as the best interrogation of politics from either side. Both characters grew in ways that were interesting and suited where they came from and their own expectations, with Hattie wanting to be loved in a certain way and Lucian trying hard to bridge that gap while remaining distant to his own feelings. If anything, I disagree with the discussion questions likening them to Hades and Persephone, since Lucian's draw wasn't initially for her specifically but required much work from him on his own outlook - even if Hattie initially has the most stereotypically feminine wishes and comes from the most privileged place of the main women, both of their work feels more concrete and connected.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Suicide, and Death of parent