Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

13 reviews

sare1125's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

faithsbookreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

This book was extremely predictable & had a lot of plot holes. When I finished the book, I was actually surprised because I felt like the ending was just so off??? it felt unfinished. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Self harm, Miscarriage, Murder, and Physical abuse

mmarquis1158's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I had guessed just about every scenario for the plot twist except for the actual plot twist! I was shocked. Finished in 3 sittings which is very fast for me. Such a good read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Vomit

midnightrose_reads's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry is a taut psychological thriller about a woman named Kate, who returns after being missing for 11 years; and who may or may not have been in a cult. Told in alternating timelines and with different POV’s from Kate’s husband Scott, from their daughter together Abby, Scott’s new wife Meredith, and Kate herself in a past timeline. A wild ride!

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo, Lauren Ezzo, and Amy McFadden.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Medical trauma, Blood, Torture, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Sexual content

kiirsttyb's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping

ventellina's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

yuyuv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, and Confinement

heather_harrison's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.5

Addictive, fast paced plot. 

Kate disappears from a shop car park and returns years later with a newborn baby. I went into this story blind, but it became immediately apparent this was going to turn into a cult situation. 

Meredith may have gone about things the wrong way, but she seemed to be the only one with half a common sense. 

There were a lot of plot holes and the ending & resolution seemed a bit forced. But it was an enjoyable read. 

3.5 stars 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Confinement

brittanylee0302's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.25

This book sounded like a great story but overall it just wasn't good. The beginning was very, very boring & it only got really good in the last 20%. There were a lot of things that didn't link up & the twist was very much predictable. Overall I'd categorize this as a mystery, certainly not a thriller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Torture, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit, Sexual content, Animal death, Self harm, and Confinement

hermithebs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Cults