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Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'
A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari
56 reviews
door's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
knitterscasket's review
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
riale's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Wouldn't read again, but it's a quick and easy read for those looking to get into reading again , or interested in trying out a different genre.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
jeshleman's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Evidence to read - slow pace, so took me a while to commit enough time to finish it, but I enjoyed hearing about the academia backdrop to the mystery.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment and Vomit
maggieoconnell's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
annah623's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed the characters (mostly) and the setting and the romance. The mystery was alright. The writing was a little amateurish, but not bad. The main character was a little too not-like-other-girls, and there isn't a very good representation of other women aside from the main character (and her best friend who isn't in the book too much but is a welcome voice of reason). Overall, I enjoyed it enough to try the sequel too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, War, and Violence
There is the immediate threat of sexual assault/violence on page. It isn't explicit or graphic, but it could be triggering.fallenstarr's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fun, fast read with enjoyable characters. This book takes place in the 1920's so sexism and misogyny is a part of that world, but there are so many characters that push back against that on a way that felt realistic for that time.
The mystery was well written but not overly surprising. The romance was cute with plenty of tropes. So if tropes annoy you, this probably isn't for you. But if you're in the mood for something fun and fast, enjoy!
The mystery was well written but not overly surprising. The romance was cute with plenty of tropes. So if tropes annoy you, this probably isn't for you. But if you're in the mood for something fun and fast, enjoy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, and Death of parent
vi_v's review
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: War and Sexual harassment
chilivanilli28's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault and War
_kaylinconn's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
3.25/5 stars!
A charming debut! While I have some critiques I’ll mention, I do think this a fun book. The pace is constant, there are real threats, a mystery to solve, and some lovable characters with intriguing histories. There is a true love for botany that shines through the novel, and it’s always amazing to see someone’s passion!
That being said, I think most of the critiques I have can be summed up with the simple knowledge that this is a debut novel. Things like lack of tension or some predictable twists will probably become less of an issue for this author as she hones in her craft.
I do appreciate the representation for both women in these fields and soldiers suffering from PTSD in a time where it wasn’t acknowledged at such. I think these elements would have hit harder had we felt more developed in the time era. Saffron and Alexander felt a bit like modern characters dropped in the past, rather than living members of the 1920s.
My biggest issue is the lack of tension. Even when we are in scenes that should be stressful, there’s this underlying mellowness to the writing that seems to steal all that away from us. And the characters are so overtly lucky that there really isn’t a fear of them not succeeding.
As with the plot itself… it felt rather disappointing. The killers were fairly obvious, and were brought up far too early. Dr Berking is established as a bad man within the first page when we get Saffron’s fear of his presence, so to have him be such a large part of the crime felt cheap. And how the crime actually happened didn’t get explained, given it happened in a crowded room where multiple sets of eyes were on him yet he remained unseen while he put the poison in? And allllll of this for embezzlement? The crime they were hiding didn’t feel like a worthy cause for a character to consider homicide. I also feel as though lots of the side characters weren’t used to their true potential, and I don’t think their endings make much sense - even if they got them. Both Eris and Snyder could have made intriguing red herrings or actual villains, yet only worked for their one scene of fame.
While a charming book, I just felt like it needed life. It felt like words on a page and not a story. But again, it was easy to read and I enjoyed Saffron and Alexander’s dynamic.
A charming debut! While I have some critiques I’ll mention, I do think this a fun book. The pace is constant, there are real threats, a mystery to solve, and some lovable characters with intriguing histories. There is a true love for botany that shines through the novel, and it’s always amazing to see someone’s passion!
That being said, I think most of the critiques I have can be summed up with the simple knowledge that this is a debut novel. Things like lack of tension or some predictable twists will probably become less of an issue for this author as she hones in her craft.
I do appreciate the representation for both women in these fields and soldiers suffering from PTSD in a time where it wasn’t acknowledged at such. I think these elements would have hit harder had we felt more developed in the time era. Saffron and Alexander felt a bit like modern characters dropped in the past, rather than living members of the 1920s.
My biggest issue is the lack of tension. Even when we are in scenes that should be stressful, there’s this underlying mellowness to the writing that seems to steal all that away from us. And the characters are so overtly lucky that there really isn’t a fear of them not succeeding.
As with the plot itself… it felt rather disappointing. The killers were fairly obvious, and were brought up far too early. Dr Berking is established as a bad man within the first page when we get Saffron’s fear of his presence, so to have him be such a large part of the crime felt cheap. And how the crime actually happened didn’t get explained, given it happened in a crowded room where multiple sets of eyes were on him yet he remained unseen while he put the poison in? And allllll of this for embezzlement? The crime they were hiding didn’t feel like a worthy cause for a character to consider homicide. I also feel as though lots of the side characters weren’t used to their true potential, and I don’t think their endings make much sense - even if they got them. Both Eris and Snyder could have made intriguing red herrings or actual villains, yet only worked for their one scene of fame.
While a charming book, I just felt like it needed life. It felt like words on a page and not a story. But again, it was easy to read and I enjoyed Saffron and Alexander’s dynamic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent