Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

43 reviews

sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. I liked the different narrators for Rachel and Hannah, and it really made the podcast chapters come to life.

This was a heavy story, so check the trigger warnings before reading, but I really liked the discussion around rape and sexual assault, and the difficulties victims face in trying to find justice, as well as how this tied the two components of the story - the trial and Hannah’s story - together.

The story was paced well and the twist at the end was reasonable and wasn’t completely out of the blue, though it wasn’t completely shocking either as I did expect the stories to blend together somehow. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this but it was more of a mystery than it was a thriller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

megob's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Really great book, great plot and pacing and format. Really difficult to read due to the content. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

rachelsbookishlife's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Violence

julienicole1106's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Torture

shereadsmysteries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Rape

Also: Slut shaming Story revolves around rape trial and can be very triggering/disturbing.

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book! I did figure out a few things early on in the book, hence the 4 stars. I found it really interesting how the 2 seemingly unrelated storylines tied together and I enjoyed the jumping between Hannah, Rachel, and the podcast. I didn't want to put this book down! 

***Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death, Murder, Rape, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Blood

bristiel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence

Moderate: Grief and Gaslighting

maggies's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Listening to the audiobook was interesting because it included "produced" episodes of the Guilty or Not Guilty podcast produced throughout the story. Not sure that was a good addition to the book, though...I didn't like the podcast and it soured my view of Rachel. The dual crimes years apart trope was executed well enough, with a suitable twist to be enjoyable, but it wasn't the most elegant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Car accident, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Bullying, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

livlivsforbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking

lou_o_donnell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence