Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The House With the Golden Door by Elodie Harper

9 reviews

abi_dutton's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Infidelity, Slavery, Toxic friendship, and Violence

emiliedr_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Bullying, Slavery, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Body shaming

shay43geek's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Slavery, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Sexual content

caelfind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Slavery, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape, Toxic friendship, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse, Grief, and Death

gondorgirl's review

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Trafficking, Bullying, Stalking, Classism, Grief, Pregnancy, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

bookswithlauren's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Slavery, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Toxic friendship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Grief, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Abortion, and Bullying

kirareads02's review

dark emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I enjoyed this one just like the first one. The more I think about it the more I dislike the two main characters and I don't know why. However, this has not hindered my enjoyment. 

Can I nicely ask for a felix prequel? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Death, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Kidnapping, Rape, and Cursing

Moderate: Pregnancy and Confinement

Minor: Sexism, Genocide, and Religious bigotry

eclectic_hellscape's review

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Antisemitism

cjdetweiler's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Overall, this book was absolutely heart-wrenching, I was almost sobbing by the end. Elodie Harper writes really compelling and complex characters who, even when they frustrate you, feel like real humans with flaws that are understandable with their pasts. I found myself partway through the last quarter of the book giggling a little at the thought of myself sitting here in bed so genuinely concerned and yearning for the happiness of two people who are just words on a page, at how real they felt. Also, I absolutely love love LOVE the development of Amara and Britannica’s friendship. Britannica in general is one of my favourite characters, she brings some much needed comic relief to the story but not is reduced to a one dimensional butt of the joke, and the strength of her devotion is so sweet and admirable.

I found the start a little slower than the first book but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. There was some frustrating miscommunication which is why I knocked half a star. Though I don’t think it is unbelievable within the characters and the world, though I think after a few times of the same recurring theme in the miscommunication between them, two of the characters would have realised they may as well tell all to the other and risk repetition rather than forsaking clarity and understanding.

I cannot wait for the third book to be released and I’m praying for a happy ending for Amara and those she loves (avoiding spoilers), though I do fear that may be wishful thinking thanks to the unavoidable fact we’re dangerously approaching 79AD and Vesuvius’ eruption :(

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape