Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

De Boekbinder by Bridget Collins

81 reviews

ufobabie's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Animal death

Moderate: Sexual content and Homophobia

737373elj's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

It's BL. If you love that, rejoice. If not, then I suggest you give it a pass. Even then, there's not that much sex (although there is sex) and it doesn't even hint that it's BL until halfway into the book. While the relationship development and characterization of the main duo is decent, the charactisation of minor characters is nonexistent. What irks me the most is the complete waste of a unique premise. Bookbinding and its history is something I would love to see more of, but preferably in a better-written book that actually places the practise center-stage rather than as a over-developed plot device for drama. Descriptions also read like a fanfic, focusing on all the wrong places. There are definitely better books to read.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content

safiewafie's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual content

mooncraftbujo's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Vomit, Slavery, Sexual content, and Pedophilia

mayas's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, rating TBC

Fuck, I don’t know what to think. I really loved this book, particularly at certain parts. I loved Emmett’s narrative voice. I loved how he noticed the little things like the way light passed through a window or the stitches on a quilt. I loved his character as a whole too. 

I loved the slow, gentleness of the first part, of his time apprenticing Seredith. The first ~30 pages felt like a Ghibli film, which was lovely.

I loved Seredith too and was very sad (and shocked!!) to see Emmett’s time with her end.

I enjoyed the second part too, I read most of it in one sitting and really struggled to put it down. I kept just wanting to read what happened next, when something specific would happen, etc.

And, at the end of it, my heart ached for Emmett and Lucian.

I enjoyed the third part too. But I didn’t love/connect with Lucian’s voice/pov. He did need to be the narrator of the third part. It made so much sense to the story. But idk,,, I missed Emmett’s voice and his thought processes. I wonder how much of me not connecting is the traumatised part of my brain trying to distance myself from Lucian’s experience though. 

And then the ending.

The lack of concrete ending felt like an unhappy one in some ways. I don’t think I really like uncertain endings in stories, I guess I never have. I remember, as a child, feeling upset and confused and unsatisfied when a film ended and I had to decide what it meant or happened next. But I want to remind myself that, at face value, it really was a happy ending. Right? (Please don’t answer this if you think otherwise.) I just hope everything works out for Emmett and Lucian; that they get away safely and have a fresh start. God, why was there a cliffhanger at the end!!!! :((((

It was interesting exploring how binding was used to exploit different people (especially women and the working class).

But I wish Lucian’s father was stopped and punished. He wasn’t. I guess it wasn’t that sort of story. And that’s okay. I’m just sad to see someone like that still be able to inflict such pain and exploit people like that. Horrible fucking man.

I also did feel a bit bored here and there but this was minimal.

I also thought Emmett really did bring on the rain but it seems it really was a coincidence.

Overall, this was a beautiful book. I loved it. My favourite parts were the slow gentleness in the first part, the language/writing, the romance (esp in Part 2), Emmett, and the concept of binding. I’m very happy I finally read this!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Rape, and Pedophilia

sternfrl613's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

2.75

This was a tough read that opened a couple of wounds I didn't need opening. I only read it till the end because I needed a happy end, and thankfully received one that I can make peace with. 
LGBTQIA*, SA survivors and children of abusive families: check the content warnings before reading to make sure you're up to what you're getting here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood

Minor: Excrement

animaniac17's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Incest, Violence, Sexual content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Rape, Vomit, Cursing, and Pedophilia

Minor: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Classism

kenzieskinnerrr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, and Vomit

readhaileyread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

c_lizziebeth's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

The text itself is so all over the place: mature and literary and trying to be poetic and then trashy and plain and funny and YA. It was a wonderful concept and a wild read, to me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Grief, Violence, and Vomit