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hollyrebecca's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Bullying, Chronic illness, and Alcohol
christina85's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
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: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
katiefreeman209's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol and Drug abuse
handful_of_frogs's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting
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: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
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: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug abuse
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, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
iwishihadmoretimetoread's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Drug use, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dementia and Drug abuse
vrhayes08's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Cursing, Stalking, Alcohol, and Biphobia
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy