Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

This is Where We Talk Things Out by Caitlin Marceau

20 reviews

anomieus's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

4.5

This really pushed some visceral emotional buttons for me. It was probably one of the most uncomfortable stories I've read in a long time. The relationship between the two main characters hit so very close to home as to be anxiety inducing. I haven't yelled (in my head) at fictional characters in a very long while and I found myself doing that throughout. This was so relatable, and despite being so uncomfortable, it was also very, very good.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia

01melon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

After finishing the book, my immediate impression was that, although being predictable, I still loved it—but, god, that finale. She is powerless therefore her fiancé can't get through to her. Her mum pushed her down the side of a mountain, breaking her leg, and then she got into a car accident while attempting to flee. She's stuck there with her insane mother and dead dad. After going through all of that in just two days, I'm furious because she deserved a happy ending. What the heck?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Eating disorder

Minor: Dementia, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

arstanley90's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

I was surprised at how short the book was. I was hoping for something a little bit longer than 92 pages but the story pretty much starts from the word go and drives very quickly to its climax. As someone who doesn't have a good relationship with their mother this book hit very close to home but my main issue of the story is the lack of common sense of our protagonist, Miller. She gives her mother all the power in setting up this mother-daughter trip and does nothing to ensure others known where this trip is going to be at in the first place. At least get the Find My Phone app, Mills.

Also I thought maybe the Mom, Slyvie was going to act as if she also had Alzheimer's, like her late husband, in order to garner sympathy from Miller and lure Miller into a false sense of security before revealing the trap her daughter was in, but no, Sylvie is just letting her crazy show. Not a fan of the ending either because I wanted Miller to make it out of there instead of crashing the truck and being held captive. It just feels like the book isn't finished

. I will say that I do like the constant tension and release of the conversation with mother and daughter. You can tell Miller has learned to stand up for herself and knows her mom's tricks when it comes to manipulation. Also the levels of dread that Sylvie made me feel was great. 2.5 out of 5 mostly due to the shortness of the book and the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Fatphobia, Car accident, Body shaming, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Gaslighting

thegayestghost's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Infertility, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gore, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

poisoned_icecream's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

Miller is planning to marry her fiancée Florence. She has had to distance herself from her abusive mother, Sylvie. Unfortunately, Sylvie tracks Miller down and manages to persuade her to spend a weekend with her in a secluded cabin. Just like everything else I've read by Caitlin Marceau, this made me feel so much dread and fear each time I turned the page. Anyone who's ever had to grow up with a cruel and manipulative parent will relate to the events in this novella.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Homophobia, Confinement, Miscarriage, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Cursing, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Body horror

hayleeenikole's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death

Minor: Car accident

sinisterbeard's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

This doesn't really feel like an okay novella so much as a great novel with the last act missing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.5

This was delightfully spooky and made me feel just as trapped and confined as anyone would be in a cabin during a snowstorm. I love horror that plays with family dynamics and this really delivered. I do feel like I have some questions that didn't quite get answered that are nagging at me, and I feel that they could've been answered if this were a full length novel or even if there was an extra 20 pages, so that's what keeps me from rating it higher. overall a good time though!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Cursing, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

jj_tj's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident, Mental illness, Blood, and Body shaming

aas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Cursing, Dementia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Car accident, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, and Death of parent