Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman

3 reviews

seekittyread's review

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Violence, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Drug use, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Rape, Incest, and Suicidal thoughts

machinations's review

emotional reflective slow-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

3.75

wouldn’t had given this a second try without the multiple recommendations from various trusted sources. yes, it’s about theatre and it should’ve hit me harder as a playwright, but it ended up hitting me harder as a constant fuck-up obsessed with “achievements.” (there’s a really killer about LOVING the creation of theatre in the first few pages that really resonated, but) ultimately this is about practicing compassion and tapping into those feral emotions that make us human.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Biphobia, Sexual content, Rape, and Stalking

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail

laguerrelewis's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is not what I expected it to be. In a way, I think that is intentional, or at the very least a funny coincidence. We Play Ourselves deconstructs expectations: of success, of failure, of truthfulness, of art-making, of who we are. Labels come up several times, both self-imposed and externally-assigned. A beautiful exploration of figuring out what you do when things don’t go to plan, Jen Silverman manages to bring a theatrical sense of life and character to this novel, depressing and inspiring and incredibly personal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol

Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Biphobia, Drug use, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia