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hollyrebecca's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Alcohol
christina85's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
booksandbesitos's review against another edition
4.75
The symbolism of the dream house was very powerful and I loved how the chapters put the dream house as different things to explain the story. The short chapters made it a little easier to consume the heavy topics.
Every chapter is like fragments to show the big picture. I think that other survivors of abuse can also relate to telling their stories in fragments at first. Until you’ve ready to tell the whole thing.
Due to the nature of the story, the content in the book is very heavy. I encourage everyone to look at the content warnings before reading this.
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
katiefreeman209's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Drug abuse and Alcohol
handful_of_frogs's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
5.0
This narrative structure also helps the reader understand the slow boil of abuse and sheds light on the ways people wield power within relationships. It is a heart wrenching examination of the isolation, emotional manipulation, bullying and gaslighting of emotional abuse in particular. I also really appreciated the reflections on language and pop culture (the origin story of the term gaslighting was new to me and fascinating).
This is a horrifying and beautifully written memoir that will resonate with those who appreciate nonlinear reflections. I particularly loved the use of second person to address her younger self, and the simultaneous distance and intimacy this created for her as she examines this part of her life.
I would also note that the audiobook is narrated by Machado and I highly recommend this format.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
alicia_ann_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Partly because I could see my own trauma all throughout and it was written in the second person which made it incredibly cathartic; but also because the author interspersed her memoir with information, other stories and events that paralleled or highlighted her, and others experiences and was written in an almost poetic manner.
Just such a phenomenal book.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcohol
nuii's review against another edition
4.75
There arent necessarilly new, profound ideas/philosophy but I did learn a few things and I appreciate the candor and bravery to tell this story, very well-written.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
iwishihadmoretimetoread's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Drug abuse and Dementia
vrhayes08's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Violence, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy