Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

17 reviews

hannahyorkey's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Drug use

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Eating disorder

annamary54's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I struggled to get into this book, but the mirror test got me hooked. this really puts into words what it feels like to be a girl in a woman’s body. at times i was extremely uncomfortable reading this, in the best way. it forced me to reflect on my own life every essay. will be recommending to all of my friends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug use, Body shaming, Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

joensign's review

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Pedophilia

Minor: Colonisation, Racism, and Transphobia

kkimball's review

challenging funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Rape, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Eating disorder

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

snowiceblackfruit77's review

challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Self harm

bashsbooks's review

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

4.5

A great collection of essays on Being (Perceived As) A Woman Under Patriarchy and all the fucky wucky stuff that comes along with that. A little more binary than what I usually prefer, but Febos' level of nuance makes up for the generalizations. The tagline on my copy of the book suggests that it's a good read for women of all kinds - mothers, daughters, sisters - but I think men would benefit a lot by reading it as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexism, Cursing, Misogyny, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Drug use, and Body shaming

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, and Death of parent

studiouspoppy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

I really liked it, it wasn’t at all what I expected (probably bc I didn’t read what it was about before starting it), but a nice surprise. I don’t think it was that memorable, and the reason why I didn’t rate it higher, but it was really good and I’d definitely recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse

cheezh8er's review

challenging reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Drug use, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Addiction, and Sexual violence

flairofclaire's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship

savvylit's review

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

"These, once again, were events - not assaults, not victimizations, but not what I would call healthy sexual experimentation. That is, experiences that separated rather than integrated. I want to say that they were not 'normal' experiences, but, unfortunately, I think that one of the reasons we have no language to distinguish them is that such experiences are quite normal."

In Girlhood, Febos articulates the physical and emotional tolls of developing womanhood. The discomfort of getting used to the male gaze, the double standards of heterosexuality, the pressure to be polite and accommodating, the inherent fear of male violence, the purity myth, unenthusiastic consent, and so much more.

While many of the subjects discussed in Girlhood aren't necessarily groundbreaking by themselves, it's the way that Febos approaches them that is so unique and insightful. Febos blends personal anecdotes with experiences from other women and with analyses of cultural touchstones. For instance, in her essay about what it means to be defined as a 'slut', Febos analyzes the implications of the film Easy A.

Febos gives an eloquent voice to the hurt caused by pervasive & nebulous forms of sexual harassment, manipulation, and empty consent. Reading these essays felt like discovering a gift that I have always wanted - always needed - to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Bullying, Body shaming, Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts