Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

55 reviews

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

caitlinggodfrey's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

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

read_by_gee's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

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

nikireadsstuff's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Physical abuse

lindsaybennett's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Really well written book, i found it very poetic. Pretty dark, definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading. I liked the style of writing and the nuggets if profound wisdom throughout the book. It almost felt like i was reading a real person's journal, not a fictional novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

saintsramz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

i hate them. ugly ass relationship. could neva be me. they need therapists. I will say though i love the way love is spoken about very very interesting for someone like me who thought they could never be worthy of love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

my girlfriend made me read this… and like i don’t even know this lady’s name but i hate her. good for her though.

camillej's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death and Medical content