Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

46 reviews

chaos_and_chapters's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Classism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Medical content, Murder, Sexual violence, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol and Grief

marissasa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

This multi-generational family book is unique and engaging, and unlike any story I've read before. The concept of identical twins splitting off and living vastly different lives that are complete opposites of each other, and their choices impacting the lives of their daughters in deep ways, is so fascinating on its own and Brit Bennett pulled it off in writing effortlessly and beautifully. Every character felt so fleshed out, flawed, and real, from the main family members to their partners and the side characters supporting them along the way. It was satisfying to read diverse and intersectional issues these characters went through being handled in such a well thought out way, and the author's writing really elevated her story with colorful language and noticeable but skillful use of literary devices. I was engaged throughout and found myself reading faster at times because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I loved the idea she put forward that there comes a point when you have been lying for so long that it becomes true for yourself because it is the reality you've chosen to live and believe. Once this story's television adaptation is ready I will be watching it the day it comes out! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Such a fascinating premise for a setting and for a storyline of a book. I knew that colorism existed, even among Black folx, but never thought about how far a group of people could take it. The main characters are all so different and yet so glaringly similar, even if they refuse to see it. The secrets we carry as daughters, sisters, mothers are complex and  many.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Toxic relationship

erd's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Love how the story is organized into chunks diving deeper on specific characters and their pain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Death, Classism, Grief, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse, Slavery, Stalking, Violence, Alcohol, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, and Pedophilia

None of content is over-the-top or overdone, all of it drives the story along.

picoledenaranja's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Racism, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment

mairi_red's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative 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? Yes

4.75

A very interesting insight into a topic I was very interested to hear more about. This book was advertised to me as an insight into race and identity. And these themes are addressed to a level which broadens your understanding. Yet, the thing that amazed me most about this book is that it tackles what seems like endless other themes with equal respect and intension including gender identity, transphobia, complicated family relationships, white privilege, mental illness, dementia, marriage, sexual abuse and much more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia

rjstellar's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Dysphoria, Grief, Medical content, Racism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Addiction, Death of parent, Dementia, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Classism and Racism

galexy_brain's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and War

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Transphobia, and Xenophobia

decklededgess's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

trigger warnings: racism, violence, hate crime, murder, homophobia, body dysmorphia, alcohol, domestic abuse, sexual content, rape and sexual harassment


This book really pics up once you hit Jude’s POV so that’s about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through the book. It’s raw and sad and so full of heart and all different kinds of love. Didn’t expect to love it so much!!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content