Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne

15 reviews

lissycr's review against another edition

reflective

• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

A great message and really cleverly put together, either I misunderstood something though or Joni

was just a bit judgmental at points considering her whole standpoint, then again nobody is perfect and it is a fucked up world they live in. I just found myself looking more forward to Bella’s chapters and seeing her journey more especially as she began to realise what Joni was opening her eyes to and confront how she really felt about all this propaganda.

The end also felt like the perfect choice, if slightly upsetting, for a piece of realistic (based) fiction like this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault and Misogyny

Minor: Eating disorder

pernillelsk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical trauma

iris_parsons's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

It made me think about todays world - very thought provoking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

freyathefridayfairy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Medical content, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse

xavreadsbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, and Rape

Minor: Pedophilia

annabelreadsandwrites's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racism

thoughtsofastar's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is so valuable. It talks of all the ways girls and women are subjected to violence, abuse and inequality. In a Doctrine-obsessed town, Belle lives a life that does not belong to her, a life where all money and time is spent on making sure she looks Pretty. But for Joni, life is different. She does not follow the rules of the Doctrine, but her life isn't easier because of it. She's ignored and laughed at for her brilliant ideas and wisdom and hopes. When Belle finally sees her, their lives change for good. Uprooted from the Doctrine and spun into a completely new, realer person Belle can finally accept her life has not been perfect, and with Joni at her side, she's finally ready to do something about it. But their town isn't ready for this uprising, and no matter who they are or how they look, it's always the girls who must pay. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Domestic abuse and Pedophilia

amber_bookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

What a book to start the year with. Powerful, evocative, an excellent read. The only thing that stopped me from rating 5 stars was some of the linguistic choices at times by the author which felt a bit jarring. Would definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism

goatsrsexy's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.0

Okay this book was definitely giving Barbie (movie) in a lot of ways. 1. It was an entertaining and interesting story that had something to say. 2. The social commentary was 100% right and told in an accessible way. 3. It was not made for people who already care about this stuff.

I'm not saying if you're educated on feminist and gender equality you won't like this book. It's a good book, but I was definitely left disappointed that it didn't take things a little further or hit a little harder. The potential was definitely there, but so were the cringy monologues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

bookishstevie's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Sexism