Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

5 reviews

sfbookgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I went into this one with really high expectations after bookstgram raved about it last year. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it, but I can see how other readers found it memorable. The novel revolves around three central characters: Duchess Day Radley - a 13-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw, Walk - a police chief in a small California coastal town, and Vincent King - a friend of Walk’s who was recently released from prison. These three characters are intertwined in a complicated web of events that lead them to make difficult decisions. Please note that this novel includes some dark themes that may not work for all readers. 

 

It’s been a while since I’ve read this one and I think I avoided writing a review for it just because I didn’t especially enjoy the novel. I didn’t love the characters and I felt like the plot went in circles. I felt pretty meh about the whole thing, but I would be interested in seeing the plot in television form as Disney snagged the rights to it last year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abortion

Minor: Emotional abuse and Child abuse

shanekate's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

This book redeems the murder mystery genre for me. It was heart wrenching, beautiful, and utterly engrossing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Suicide, Gun violence, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, and Stalking

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Trafficking, Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Racism, Sexual assault, and Vomit

Not recommended to people who went through trauma related to foster care. Sexual violence is referenced several times but does not occur.

sara_phoenix's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Cape Haven is a sleepy costal California town where everyone knows everyone. Tragedy struck 30 years ago with the death of 7 year-old Sissy, and when the felon, Vincent King, is released from prison, old wounds open. Chief of Police Walk knows the pain firsthand as he was the one who sent his best friend to prison all those years ago. But when Sissy’s troubled sister, Star, is murdered and leaves behind her two children, thirteen year-old daughter, Duchess, and her six year-old son, Robin, Walk must face the past head on to catch a killer and protect Star’s children. Part drama and part crime/thriller, Whitaker’s third novel reads as if he’s done this many, many times before. The characters are flawed but so well-developed, especially self-proclaimed outlaw Duchess, and I couldn’t help but root for each of them throughout the book. This hauntingly beautiful story reads like a modern day Shawshank Redemption - where do you go when things keep falling apart? How do you face yet another loss? In this book the characters work through the process of growth and of letting go; of grief and of healing; of beginning at the end. This is a book that will stick with you long after you finish reading. I can’t wait to see what Whitaker comes up with next. Brilliant.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness

jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Gun violence

thespinystacks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

It’s hard to say you love a book that starts sad and ends sad, but I did. I wasn’t sure that I would be a fan of this book at the beginning, there seemed to be so many names to learn but it all started to fall into place. 

Duchess is a wonderfully complex character. My heart was breaking for her and Robin through the story. Children shouldn’t have to endure so much heartache, yet they do.

Walk is also terribly complex. He is your challenge of doing what’s “right” or “wrong”. The story is interwoven with choices being made under impossible circumstances, showing you that life is so often not black or white, and you have to make choices with the limited information you’ve got.

You hope throughout this story, and just when you think you’re all out of hope - you find enough to hope for the best even after it is done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Gun violence, and Car accident

Minor: Addiction, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Emotional abuse