Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

64 reviews

glains's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship

alayamorning's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence

anika_the_reader's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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

4.5

This book was really different to what I usually read, but I enjoyed it a lot! It's about 2 twins that grew up in a town where everyone was black but so light they could pass for white. After they run away, one twin lives life as a white woman while the other marries a black man. The author weaves family, colorism, and fate together to create a beautiful story that spans multiple generations and perspectives. While the plot is interesting, the phenomenal writing was the best part. Everything was expressed so skillfully that I needed to read some parts out loud to fully experience how beautiful it was. I'd definitely recommend, but bear in mind that it is a little intense and not suitable for younger readers. It doesn't really follow a traditional plot structure so there were definitely some moments that left me wondering what the point was. However, the storyline was so fascinating that I'm willing to excuse that. I loved how each of the 4 main characters contrasted each other so well and how if it weren't for fate, their lives would be entirely different. I loved Jude's character and the hardships she faced in Millard almost made me cry. Kennedy and Stella annoyed me quite a lot, but I could see why they made the decisions they did. Reece was a great boyfriend and I loved the trans rep that was woven into the story!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

sayruh90's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, and Bullying

lani's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Dementia

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Physical abuse

irisheyz77's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Murder and Toxic relationship

katrinarose's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a heartbreaking story but also full of hope. It was slow-paced but kept me interested the whole time. I wish there was a bit less jumping around because that left me feeling a bit disconnected from the characters and feeling like I understood them. Otherwise it was a book that gave me a lot of think about and a lot to feel about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racial slurs, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Dementia, Medical content, and Sexual content

thebookadvocate's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Physical abuse

Minor: Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Hate crime, and Death

papercraftalex's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I really disliked the way the trans character was written. I also found issues with pacing and the time jumps were confusing and the ending was unsatisfying, but my overall issue is that the author really didn't handle the queer characters with care at all. It had some really good parts and is good for reflection on colorism and the idea of passing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

beetsnotbombs's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia

Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, Hate crime, Medical content, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic relationship