Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Luster by Raven Leilani

82 reviews

unholyhelsing's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism

bail33's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I feel like I know the characters, and even though I didn’t particularly like Rebecca, I feel like I miss all of the characters now that I’m done reading because I had such a sense of being there. Leilani’s writing is just beyond incredible. She uses many words to explain things that could be summed up in just a few, which imo goes against the trend in literary writing right now, but because of it I know and love and understand her setting and cast more. There were so many passages that I have highlighted because how how much they inspire me to write. Such a beautiful and meaningful novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Abortion, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, and Addiction

Minor: Blood, Car accident, Medical content, and Adult/minor relationship

al_davies_jones's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Slavery, Animal death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Mental illness, Medical content, Physical abuse, Blood, Infidelity, Addiction, Sexism, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Drug use, and Grief

ninawilson49's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.75

The first and second half are entirely different books. There was absolutely no let up with the grief and sadness the MC experienced to the point where I was not reflective and dreaded reading each chapter. This is a book that White women love and I unfortunately think they are reading it for the trauma porn under the guise of a moody, chaotic woman's story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

yosistachrista's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death of parent

yannan_mw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Racism

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Infidelity, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Body horror, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident and Animal death

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, and Sexual content

Moderate: Police brutality, Miscarriage, Abortion, Racism, and Drug use

Minor: Animal death and Racism

lindseyhall44's review

challenging reflective medium-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

Luster is a novel unlike anything I have ever read. It is sharp, witty, and discusses themes of race, sex, adulthood, and relationships in such a complex way, that I was stunned to discover that this is Leilani’s debut into the literary world.
Luster chronicles the life of Evie in a scathingly raw first person narrative, as she moves in with a white married man, his white wife, and their black child. Edie is black herself, and is meant to serve as a guiding source for their daughter, yet becomes entrapped in a confusing web of racial politics.
I resonated so much with Edie’s insights and findings, and she delivers them in way which seems to break the forth wall itself. She is imperfect, but so is the world we live in, and I loved following Edie’s journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abortion, Body horror, Violence, and Death of parent

slascano's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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 book really surprised me. I thought it would be filled with sex because of the plot description. I was ready to stop reading it because I wasn’t looking for that but it was a very small part of it. Insight into a 20 something black woman who is searching for her identity and self worth. Really good book that leaves you valuing all the characters and their role in influencing the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Infidelity, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny

The triggers are not explicit or graphic just present