Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

40 reviews

leahkarge's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, and Abortion

tigger89's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Told in a series of short, punchy chapters, alternating between the present day and flashbacks to Nora's early life, this story races along, leaping from plan to plan as the situation develops. To be clear, this book is a power fantasy, throwing realism aside to deliver a story of abuse, manipulation, and the ability to find the strength to stand up for yourself when there's nobody coming to save you. This isn't a bad thing, but it's good to set expectations going in.

The exploration of Nora's identities was very well done. While the younger two had few details, I feel that I really got to know Haley, Katie and Ashley. The trauma incurred and their responses to it were the most realistic part of the book, to the point where I suggest checking content warnings before reading. Additionally, I really liked the dynamic between Nora, Iris and Wes, especially how Iris stepped into the role of Nora's accomplice. It's always nice to see explicitly bisexual characters, and here we've got two of them!

I wasn't so much a fan of how the past was revealed. It skipped around, teasing without telling, and I sometimes wasn't sure when or who I was. There were also a few mysteries teased but never delivered upon, such as the forest fire. It was made out to be a whole big thing, but we never saw the moment go down, and were left to piece together what might have happened from what came before and after. That seemed odd to me, given that it was such a pivotal moment in the Nora-Wes-Iris drama.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy

pageswithamber's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

pattyblom's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

Good pacing with the story and the flashbacks in between to get a better picture of the main characters. Really got a sense of the different realtionships between the characters and how the main character grew up to be how she is now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury

jayecard's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

 I thought this book would be 80% con schemes and lying and smart manipulation, and 20% character, or so. The book is more like, 20% con stuff (which is ok), and 80% character, which is to say 80% horribly abused and traumatized teenagers finding ways to deal with it (which is done extremely well). It's a very fast read, style is alright, with the most difficult parts of the content done damn well. But check the trigger warnings for sure, the heavy stuff caught me off guard for real.

tl;dr: Full ass recommend, but check content warnings first

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Abortion

Child Sexual Abuse and horrible handling thereof by the parent

jojo_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Chronic illness, Rape, and Alcohol

sharkbrarian's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-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

Gripping, poignant, and fierce.  

The pacing and structure of this twisty mystery is perfectly tuned, making it very hard to put down.  The fascinating, damaged main character is loved by a small cadre of steadfast, clever friends and family, which buffers the reader through the flashback sections (cleverly set apart by grey pages) that are rough going, as Nora unspools her upbringing as an accessory to her mother’s grift schemes.  

The plot offers compelling glimpses into this criminal world, but the engine of the story is Nora’s journey toward healing and her personal reconciliation with the impossible and often violent choices she is forced to make in the name of survival.  

Would I buy this title for my high school library?  YES, though when book-talking it I would provide content warnings and would actively promote it to older students rather than younger

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book about a girl who was forced to be anything but for her entire life. It was exciting and thrilling and dramatic and sad. A great YA thriller about a smart girl who finally becomes herself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion

aliciawhatsthestory's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was our book club pick for this month. While I liked it, the entire club agreed that the amount of trauma felt a bit excessive throughout this book, especially since the way it was marketed did not indicate how dark and heavy the topics would be. We would have all appreciated trigger warnings for the extensive abuse that is both detailed and implied in the main character, Nora’s, flashbacks to her life as a con artist. Netflix is making this a movie, and I have my doubts about how it will translate to screen, especially given the book is aimed at teenagers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape