Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

49 reviews

ohheyitskaitlin's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Ableism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Violence, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Medical content

cluckieduck's review

funny lighthearted slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Biphobia, and Cursing

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

zoebrook's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

I really enjoyed this book and the characters and the depth they achieved through very real feeling character flaws and discussions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Biphobia

There is a sexual assault portrayed in the book, named as assault, and treated with weight. It is a This person is unexpectedly kissing me, won't stop, and will get shoved off of me scene, happening to the main character. I think the story does a good job of walking the line between treating it seriously and maintaining the lighthearted and flawed characters style of the book.

londonsetterby's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Classism, and Biphobia

sglance9's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Biphobia, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

aimzthereader's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted relaxing medium-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? Yes

5.0

I LOVED this book and felt sooo seen by it . This book represents a lot of the bisexual experience, the good and the bad. I love that the author was not afraid to call out a lot of shit that lgbtqia+ community has to deal with . 

I loved the writing style. I loved the plot especially the setting of it being on the Great bake which is the Great British bake off 100%. It was I reretibg to hear about the competition while having a romance happen at the same time. This id also a story of friendship. The power of standing up for yourself and being your true self and being fine with that and making others realize they need to be accepting and respectful. 

The daughter in this is also super cute and that’s a great storyline of seeing Rosaline as a single mother and all the experiences that go along with that. 
 
There were many many moments where I found myself snapping/clapping along at this book, nodding my head and smiling and also getting mad at certain characters. This book also made me watch the great British bake off and I highly recommend that for a
Multimedia experience. 

I will read many more books by Alexis hall because to me this book was perfection . 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Biphobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

Minor: Body shaming, Violence, and Medical content

readingqueerly's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

3.5

Fun romance read. It did go quite slow at the start in my opinion. But the second half read so fast!

I really appreciate the way we're supposed to cheer for Rosaline and Alain at the start. It's only very slowly and subtlely you start to realise he's an asshole. I thought that was done so well. I think the balance between the relationship with Alain building before going wrong, and then getting to know Harry more so it makes sense for him to end up with Rosaline was done really well. I was scared at first they would become a couple without really knowing Harry all that well (both Rosaline and the reader I mean), but I feel like we got enough alone time with him to accept him and like him.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Violence, Classism, and Cursing

quasinaut's review

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

Plot-wise, this was a very enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, romance perfect for anyone who likes GBBO. That said, I felt that Rosaline's emotional growth added depth that I really appreciated! From the start, Rosaline stands up for others, particularly her daughter, but struggles to speak up for herself and her dreams. We see her figure out what she wants, learn to recognize (rather obvious) red flags in others, and pursue her goals even when they don't match with what's expected of her by her parents or society at large. Love this journey!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual assault, Classism, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Fatphobia

plumpaperbacks's review

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

3.5

This was good in the beginning and in the end, but my interest waned during most of the middle. While I did like Rosaline, my favorite characters were side characters—specifically, Anvita and Amelie. The banter was highly entertaining, but there were also times where some of the dialogue and even a couple of characters felt cringey. I liked Alain at first, but then he started to get on my nerves more and more, and then he outed himself as a totally pretentious, jealous asshole. I no longer like him. And while Harry is a sweetheart, no doubt about it, I… didn’t really feel any chemistry between him and Rosaline?? I liked their friendship, but never really got attached to their romance.

Also, it felt pretty obvious to me that Rosaline would win the competition. Books like these almost always either have the protagonist win, or they come in second/third place but still end up getting some sort of prize out of it. I’m happy for her, don’t get me wrong—and definitely glad that Alain didn’t win—but yeah. No surprise factor here.

Overall, this was fine. Not the new favorite I’d hoped it would be when I started, but not bad either. I’d recommend it, but there are other romances I’d recommend first/more. I’ll probably read the next one just because I’m curious, and these books are, at the very least, entertaining.

Representation

• bisexual protagonist
• lesbian side character
• achillean side character
• Punjabi side character
• side character with an anxiety disorder (unspecified)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Biphobia, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

The sexual content and sexual assault tags are there separately; there are multiple, consensual sex scenes varying from mild to moderate explicitness. The attempted sexual assault was stopped and challenged. Emotional abuse, gaslighting and classism are all in regards to Rosaline’s parents, with the former two relating to their treatment of her and the latter to their opinions of others. Biphobia is also directed at Rosaline, but from side characters, and she challenges it every step of the way.

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexism and Mental illness