Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Muttermilch by Melissa Broder

16 reviews

sophiejohn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I already wasn't going to read the pisces, but I'm definitely staying away from melissa broder's books after this. the writing style was unsettling, but not in a cool subversive way just in a way that sometimes made me want a shower. she created several avenues that she never circled back on, leaving a lot of loose ends that seemed distracted. she also tried to drop in some *relevant insight* about Palestine but it seemed so forced. the mom was such a driving force for the Big Reason behind the story and plot, but the author made her completely fade into the background - the opposite of the way you'd expect someone like she described her to be, overbearing and manipulative.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Self harm, Addiction, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Dysphoria

rigid and explicit calorie counting

arthomas's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Addiction, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

mlaursen's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

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

4.25

I didn’t want to put this book down! It was a bit of a wild ride and the MC is frustratingly annoying, but her realness is extraordinary. I felt shame and awkwardness while reading but it was only from the bare reality of the MC’s life/situation. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

azalia's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Incest, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Self harm

jessarends's review against another edition

dark funny fast-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

3.75

I read this in days, found myself letting my cereal get soggy. You’ll follow the main character Rachel moment by moment, so the next chapter often feels needed. 

If you’ve struggled or struggled with disordered reading; this book can be very sticky. I found myself comforted by how far I felt from Rachel’s thoughts in my growth. But still knew. 

This novel is about spirituality, religion (Judaism; Orthodox and former), sex, disordered eating and mothers and mothers and mothers. Rachel is real, messy. A character that feels alive; that I didn’t like seeing myself in at moments. 

<spoiler I felt the book moved SO quickly in the last 45ish pages, and my grief about Rachel and Miriam was growing. The lack of COMMUNICATION between them; like we need to talk and not just fuck! But, isn’t that real and honest. I was shocked by the wrap up at the end. Made me appreciate the intimacy of knowing that small period of Rachel.>

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Self harm

dhritigupta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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

2.75

this was a weird book man. like some parts were genuinely really well done when it came to rachel’s growth and development as a person, but all the romance was uncomfortable to me obviously bc of the oedipal vibes but also bc her attraction to miriam felt very bodily focused and kinda fetishizing rather than a genuine romance. it was a very primal book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Homophobia