Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

This is Where We Talk Things Out by Caitlin Marceau

7 reviews

faye_grace's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

A chilling novella focusing on an extremely toxic mother-daughter relationship.

For just over 90 pages there were so many scenes that had me creeped out! The author has done a great job at characterisation.

The isolated setting adds to the novella and the sense of being locked in.

Definitely read if you're in the mood for a short (but creepy) horror novella!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death of parent

Moderate: Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Death, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

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

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

nika_nix's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

Wow. This was messed up, creepy as fuck and packed a huge punch in less than 100 pages. I am amazed and very, very disturbed. Have I read my favorite horror of the year already?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Stalking

Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident

kstericker's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Blood, Death of parent, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

Minor: Dementia, Terminal illness, Cursing, and Stalking

kermit_the_wrong's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A super quick, gory read. Nothing over the top and just the right amount of mystery and suspense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Death of parent, Dementia, Blood, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Gore

bakerreads's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia