Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Worry by Alexandra Tanner

4 reviews

liblibby's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Ordinarily I don't enjoy books in the "depressed twenty-something woman who lives in NYC" genre but I rather enjoyed this one. Maybe because it's about sisters and I have such a complex non-relationship with my sister that a story about sisters who love each other--even if they hate each other, was what my soul needed. But also, this story stayed on the humorous side of realistic. It didn't get too depressing but it still felt very honest.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

mmccombs's review

dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

The statement “I think you guys might be thinking about yourselves too much” in book form. Chronically online, full of mind-numbing Instagram conspiracy theories, endless consumption and misery and nihilism. But I swear it’s also funny! I thought the writing and character work here was very well done. It’s difficult to capture the intense kind of love that is also deeply toxic and often hateful that can exist between sisters (and mothers), knowing that these characters are acting this way out of deep love and even deeper insecurity. I do think the ending was a bit strange and out of nowhere, it kept up the themes of this book but otherwise didn’t feel like it fit, being as quick and jarring as it was. If you are a fan of messy 20-something coming of age stories, I’d say this is another solid installment, though I can’t say it’s the strongest of the genre.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Antisemitism, and Transphobia

juliapls's review

dark funny tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I wanted this story to just say more. There were some really witty passages and interesting moments but what you get from the first few chapters of the book is all you'll get from the book. A slice of life that should have been a short story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Animal cruelty, Blood, Eating disorder, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

brinnavirginia's review

emotional funny 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

5.0

Genuinely hilarious. A true dramedy, full of current pop culture content which feels self-referential rather than dating but still anchoring the book in the just-right time for the story to work exactly as it does, all while telling a timeless story of woman- and sisterhood. What a treat!!

“Having a sister is looking in a cheap mirror: what’s there is you, but unfamiliar and ugly for it.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Blood

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Death of parent, Car accident, and Vomit