Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

10 reviews

ginalucia's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

 Spells for Forgetting is a slow, rambling cozy mystery, sprinkled with just a touch of fantasy. It's the kind of book you can curl up with on a rainy day.

This book is dripping with atmosphere - it's like you're transported to another world with every turn of the page. And despite the rich atmosphere, it's surprisingly easy to read.

The small-town vibes in this book remind me of A River Enchanted, but with a twist of small town politics woven in alongside the fantasy elements. The fantasy aspect is subtle, like an undercurrent waiting to surge to the surface.

Spells for Forgetting is a brilliant winding road of a book that's an absolute joy to read. If you're in the mood for a cozy mystery with a hint of fantasy, this one's for you.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Self harm, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury

milenanoelm's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

ettaviereads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Murder, and Pregnancy

chantelmai's review

4.0

I was completely hooked from the beginning of this book. Normally, I’m not a fan of multiple POVs, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It was amazing to be inside so many characters’ heads and learn about them in a deeper way. The foreshadowing in this book was well done and getting to live in both the past and the present was such a fun storytelling tool. Adrienne Young never fails me. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

puddleshoes's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Murder

phoenixlovesbooks's review

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.75

I loved the story and the mystery of it all, but the thing that made me the most frustrated was all the talk of secrets. It felt like everyone had a secret and it got to the point where I didn't even care anymore

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Murder, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer and Suicide

slvt4b00ks's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

I read this book very fast so I would say I was invested in how things turned out but the only wow factor was really the twist at the end.  The author does paint a very vivid picture with beautiful words which I can appreciate, but I just felt like it fell flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Murder, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

yruss972's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

More a mystery book than anything else. Similar to Harlan Coben books- mystery from the past comes to light in the present.
Very little magic involved.
Pseudo-suspenseful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pregnancy

heatherjchin's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Self harm, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Animal death, Death, and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, and Child abuse

lovelymisanthrope's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

I received this book in a FairyLoot box, and I was very excited to give it a read!
"Spells for Forgetting" follows Emery, a young woman who as a teenager swore, she would never stay in her hometown of Saoirse Island. On the eve of her planned escape into the real world, her best friend is found murdered, and the court of public opinion places the blame on Emery's one true love: August. Now, well into their adult years, August has returned to the island to lay his recently deceased mother to rest. Can Emery and August rekindle what was stolen from them and uncover the truth about what happened decades ago?
This book is the perfect fall read, and I wish I would have picked it up in October. August's family owns an orchard and all of the details and descriptions about the island and orchard made me crave changing leaves and sweet apples. Small town, close-knit stories about places like Saoirse Island also always make me think of cooler weather.
This story was well-crafted and interesting. From the beginning, I was sucked into the story and committed to proving that August was set up and someone was hiding something far more sinister. I loved that this felt like Emery and August were getting a second chance, but their "love story" did not overshadow the mystery of this book.
I had a really great time reading this, and I look forward to picking up more from Adrienne Young in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Grief, Violence, and Hate crime

Minor: Alcohol