Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

128 reviews

zorazadiezahrah's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

shocking in the best ways 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Murder, Violence, Pregnancy, Grief, and Toxic relationship

m_a_j's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity

violetaalseide's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Infidelity, Gun violence, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Fire/Fire injury

kurumipanda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Classism, and Sexism

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Terminal illness, Cultural appropriation, Cancer, Incest, Animal cruelty, and Biphobia

time4tori2read's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Death

Minor: Terminal illness

the_embodiment_of_chaos's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Death of parent, Incest, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Classism, and Terminal illness

seanml's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A supremely excellent narrative. Daphne de Maurier allows you to feel the complete dread that the protagonist does about every possible thing. Wonderful characters (As terrible as they may be), palpable fear, and real anger at a certain character. 10/10.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Murder, Gun violence, and Alcoholism

Minor: Animal cruelty and Cancer

cassiealexandra's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Somehow I missed this classic from the 1930s until now, and I’m so glad I picked it up. The cover of my copy says, “a classic tale of romantic suspense,” and I think that description is fitting. This had the feel of gothic horror but without any supernatural elements. I loved the sinister and severe character of Mrs. Danvers. I liked the way that we watch the narrator (who is never named) come into her own, going from a 21-year-old unable to speak her mind and stand up for herself, constantly feeling herself in the shadow of her new husband’s first wife, into a grown woman in a matter of days. Getting into her psyche and seeing her imagination get the best of her, playing out full conversations and paranoid scenarios was so interesting to me. The phantom, ghost-like presence of Rebecca, the narrator’s predecessor, was haunting as were the grounds, rooms, and items at Manderley. The descriptions of the gardens and ocean were so vivid, it was almost physically cloying at times. Everything had the shadow of Rebecca laced in it, and it was easy to see why the narrator could hardly help but compare herself. Oddly, this large age-gap romance was sweet at times, even though at first the narrator wonders if she serves more as a lap-dog to Maxim than wife. What I like most may have been the structure though because the opening chapters serve as an epilogue. The reverse storytelling made me want to pick the book right up again and reread.

The bottom line: This is the perfect blend of suspense, romance, and classic genres with a deep dive into a narrator’s head, gothic elements, whispers of a mysterious past, and a haunting and beautiful English estate setting.

— NOTES —
Genres: classic, gothic, suspense, romance
POV: 1st-person, singular
Content: death, toxic relationship, ɹǝɔuɐɔ ʻʇsǝɔuᴉ
Romance: kissing only

— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)

Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 4
My Gut Feeling: 5

Total Stars: 4.5 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Incest, Murder, and Toxic relationship

elizabeth_henry's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Infidelity, Cancer, Murder, Incest, Death, and Classism

Minor: Gaslighting

meh697's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship