Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

6 reviews

rrubin97's review

medium-paced

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

2.0

Girl meets boy from wrong side of the tracks. Boy is an ass and uses her. She falls for him and her reforms but is still an ass.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent

sami_leigh's review

emotional medium-paced

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

2.75

I had high hopes for this book, which were swiftly thrown off of a cliff with the first utterance of a cheating trope. While the unfolding backstory and subsequent character development of Cooper and his brother Evan were well thought out, these characters were left to carry the entire book solo. Mac showed some personal growth in her decisions to forge her own path, though her gullibility becomes a running joke, along with the joke that is made of her

when the revenge plot blows up. I could’ve gotten on side with this story if Cooper hadn’t known who Mac was when they met - perhaps finding out later and keeping it from her - but this revenge plot goes beyond toxic.

I had hoped the supporting characters - Coop’s ‘gang’ - would redeem themselves

after actively encouraging a plot to break down the character of a women they’ve never met all because her boyfriend is a certifiable asshole. Grow up.

They lacked depth, however, and Mac doesn’t develop a support system beyond her dorm mate - who isn’t much help

-meaning once the third Act comes this character is still alone, without anyone to help her pick up the pieces. So instead of going and picking them up herself, she runs to the people who actually sparked the whole revenge plot and convinced Cooper to continue with it…I am utterly lost.

 
The ending left much to be desired. Ultimately, people didn’t own their behaviour and work to become better, and while Mac wasn’t all that likeable as a character, after what she has persevered through in her life she deserved a better support system by the end.

I would consider reading the sequel if only to see the real love story play out; that between Evan and Daisy, their dog. 

Tropes: Cheating, opposites attract, good-girl bad-boy.
Some good banter. 
Some diversity rep. 
🌶🌶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

kels24's review

funny relaxing 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual violence, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual content, Classism, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Cursing

Minor: Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

xriekex's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

3.0

Nothing too exciting, really. Fulfilled most beach read tropes. Did not like most main characters at first, warmed up to them a bit but we're not my favourites

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Death of parent

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Grief

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Violence

quinn22's review

challenging emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction and Toxic friendship