Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

164 reviews

actiaslunasaturniidae's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

5.0

i think i might be in love.
when i read the synopsis i feared this was gonna be a very 'straight' book - romanticising toxic relationships, shallow and all that. but while this is undeniably still very straight, it's also self-aware, beautiful, painfully relatable at times, unhinged and so lovable.
it's got messy takes on obsession and love and features thoughts that sprang from a disturbed mind. 
the book's full of terribly relatable things, vices and forbidden thoughts i was surprised to find were not confined to my own damned existence. it was all so specific and comforting and horrible.
the short chapters made this book quick, easy and lovely to read.
whimsical, yet comforting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body horror, Addiction, and Physical abuse

Minor: Blood, Gore, and Drug use

joy_ong's review

dark emotional sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Self harm

candournat's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Self harm, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Eating disorder

bookwormfr_t0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Nolan's writing is incredibly full of depth and I can confidently say I have never read anything like this.  We follow the narrator go through an unhealthy obsession with love and the toxic abuse she endures.  I didn't necessarily "root" for the narrator, however, I couldn't stop reading it because it's like watching a car crash - you can't look away.  There is so much commentary in such a short book (the female experience, losing yourself in someone else, mental illness, eating disorders and relationships with food, appeasing men, consent, etc.); it is an uncomfortable read so ensure to review the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicidal thoughts

redflyingbook's review against another edition

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this surely was a quick read!

the narrator is a woman in her twenties, who meets a guy who she becomes immediately infatuated, and quickly downright obsessed with. here begins a - in the eyes of probably any clear thinking bystander - highly toxic relationship that mainly made me want to spit the guy right in his face for the excessively shitty behavior towards her. along the way, the book also explores the narrator's struggles with alcoholism, dependence, identity, body image, lust and love. 

some trains of thought felt wildly familiar and definitely expressed complex feelings very boldly and clearly. 
although the focus was probably also supposed to be more on the relationship dynamic , somehow i felt that the characters still lacked substance in some way? the ending part also felt unexpectedly extreme and not entirely well-paced in my opinion. still an interesting read that urges you ponder about uncomfortable but important topics.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Terminal illness and Dysphoria

standrews's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcohol

nzmerchant's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.5

This book read like a journal entry of every single unhinged and difficult truth I have had. They way Nolan put so many feelings I have experienced into words - wow, this was such a cathartic read. I truly feel for the MC. For her self awareness and blatant honesty at all her flaws. Ciaran is a red flag but so is our dear MC. 

Unfortunately, the ending made me a little bit uneasy and took me by surprise because there was a time jump where I’m guessing a lot of plot development would have happened. So it was not as satisfying but I’m still blown away but how raw this book was on the whole. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Self harm, and Eating disorder

Minor: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

brianareads's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Fatphobia, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder

anshika06's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship