Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Acts of Desperation

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

146 reviews

frostedpetals's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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estella44's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-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

3.75

I found in this book a shared culture of female identity. There were phrases or passages that struck me in a way because I felt that all women in particular could relate. I was reading a story about someone and their lives; someone who I personally had no connection with (I don't live in the same city, share the same habit, or have the same connections). Yet the feelings expressed, the experiences with men at times, and the inner most thoughts, all seemed to resonate with me. I've found myself in situations similar, or I've had feelings similar. I know I didn't love this book, but I know it was something I didn't regret reading. Following this woman on her journey of life, love, self, etc. felt like camaraderie of sorts.

Quotes I loved:

"I was not without value, but the value I held was not the kind I wanted to hold, and I did not know how to exchange it."

"In fact, I wanted to want them, would have loved to live a life like that. Or rather I would have loved to appear to live a life like that. All the things that Lisa did for her own genuine pleasure were things I thought looked good, things I didn’t want for their own sake. I thought a life that looked that way– clean and gentle and high- minded– would get me what I truly wanted, which was to do with having as much of people as possible, their attention, their desire, their curiosity."

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ophelia_so_sad's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad 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

2.5

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jesuspricereadsomething's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad tense medium-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

i really enjoyed the beginning of this book. i think when people talk about their happiness in life, that happiness is linked to or exacerbated by romantic relationships; nothing was ever unrealistic about the narrator wanting to be loved and the sacrifices she was willing to make to get that. my problem with this book is that the narrator is fully aware that her mental and bodily sacrifices mean nothing and yet she continues to perform these “rituals” accommodating the person showing her the least bit of love. the second half of this books is just unimpressive and places sadness on this pedestal to be glamorized and necessary all for the feeling of being held and made warm at night. she complains about men disregarding her reality, but she disregards it as well. STAND UP! for fuck’s sake.

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seizuredreading's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to say she’s a dummy bitch & leave it be, but…

FL is complicated. Yes, it’s probable to say that her thoughts and reasoning are hard to follow, but I guess that’s the human condition at such an age, in said situations. Mind her life could’ve gotten far worse than her choices had led her.
While this is a determining factor of DNF qualifications, I implore the few to power through. Interestingly reflective as FL comes to her own in the world.

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