Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Femme Like Her by Fiona Zedde

4 reviews

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

2.75

I liked Scottie, but Nailah didn't really vibe for me. She seemed to be kind of a jerk to everyone besides her parents, and people in her life were equally disrespectful to her (like Pauline and Scottie who never seem to respect her boundaries). Scottie and Nailah have great sexual chemistry, but the romantic chemistry felt really lacking for me.

Nailah also has some really concerning views that feel sort of  glossed over? She thinks deeply biphobic things, even if Pauline talks to her about them, and never really reconciles those views. She also has problematic views around adoption, motherhood and children, which go largely unchecked and unresolved.

I look forward to reading other works by this author, and hopefully finding a main character I like better! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Car accident, Stalking, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Abortion

offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Abortion

happyblkhippie's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I struggled to finish this. I really wanted to like this because we definitely need more Black lesbian representation in the LGBTQIA+ space, but it was just not doing it for me. The story is okay, the narrator was fine. Maybe it was the writing? I just didn't connect with the characters or the story that much. The two MC's relationship just came across as toxic to me as well as the MC's friend. Overall I was underwhelmed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Rape, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Car accident

Within the first 20 mins of listening to the book I was immediate turned off and had to stop reading. Scottie's very forward and pushy approach is probably what most are into, but a definite turn off to me which made it hard to keep reading. There's a sex scene that to me borders on sexual manipulation/abuse because of the immediate crossing of Nailah's boundaries. Also Pauline's character is toxic AF.

penandpages's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

LI got pregnant by her then-boyfriend because he removed his condom mid-sex without her consent.