Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

61 reviews

skylerraee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I mean this in the best way possible: WHAT. THE. FUCK. At several points I was like, how can there be this many more pages if things are wrapping up? And I was wrong every single time. I genuinely cried at the end, partly because it was over but also because of how beautifully written it was. I have a handful of books I wish I’d never read, simply so I could read them for the first time- and this is definitely one of them. 6/5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

amberjackonski's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

finn_vibing'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gore, Cursing, Car accident, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Body horror, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, Child death, Grief, Self harm, Gun violence, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, War, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Animal cruelty

lizkoroskenyi's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I'm too tired after reading this mammoth to put together a well written review... So here are just some quick thoughts I had while reading.

Fine but pretentious. I enjoyed the story up until the halfway mark and then wondered why he couldn't just wrap it up and be done? Why did it need to be over 700 pages?

It felt very much like he was trying to write a Stephen King book. Especially with the unneeded deep backgrounds on every single character and super long, unnecessary drawn out scenes.

There were so many statements that felt like they were supposed to be profound but really weren't. It read more like Christian horror fanfiction than anything deep and complex.

Every other line was a simile or a metaphor and it got VERY sickening very quickly. Especially since they were mostly terrible.

Also what is up with the author's obsession with the cool side of the pillow? It must have come up at least a hundred times.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Torture

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

theimposter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Murder, Sexual violence, Confinement, Physical abuse, War, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Dementia, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Cursing, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Chronic illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

rcd229's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Gore, Death of parent, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Child death, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

Moderate: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Torture

Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, and Bullying

thetearex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Death, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Child death, Violence, Bullying, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

metalcutesolid's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry

dez02'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I will start off by saying that anyone who is sensitive to triggers, or is easily upset/disturbed should not read this book. 

This book primarily focuses on children and the mess of their families. It is detailed and intense. The author describes many horrible things that happen to these children. I would say it is not for the faint of heart. 

I found myself having to take a break multiple times. Having to sit back and just take in what I read. 

That being said, the book was beautifully written. It's in 3rd person (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong), so we get the opinions of every character that we can. We see what goes on in their heads and how they get manipulated by "The Nice Man". 

It shows just how fragile humanity can be, and how with the flip of a switch, everything could come crumbling down. Just a little whisper in someone's ear to send them down the wrong path could be the catalyst to ruining their lives. 

Although the topics of the book are dark I did enjoy reading it. I recommen it with caution. Think about your own mental health and decide if you are in a steady place to delve into something dark. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, and Car accident

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Rape, and Pregnancy