Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Come Closer by Sara Gran

15 reviews

an_apollinaria's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

An enjoyable horror novel, but not something i would re-read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

islesbiyana's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense 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

3.5

“We could devote our lives to making sense of the odd, the inexplicable, the coincidental, but most of us don’t. And neither did I.”

Overall Rating — 3.5 stars ★★★☆☆

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Addiction, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Body horror

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Body shaming

chloseencounter's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

I quite enjoyed this short little read. It was a take on demonic possession I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before, a very realistic downfall of questioning your own sanity and the feelings of losing control. I liked the interactions with the main character and the demon, the false sense of security the demon created for her while she was vulnerable truly manipulating her to the let the demon in. 

I really enjoyed the parts where I wasn’t even sure if they actually happened, like the doctors visits that only made the possession take more of a hold and when our main character (can you tell I can’t remember her name, I think it was Amanda) would run into other people who seemed to have demonic energy within them. I also thought the freakiest part was the sad excuse for an exorcism and the description of the demon just kind of skittering around in the darkness of her mind’s safe space.

Overall this was a solid, short, spooky read perfect for my Halloween/Fall TBR. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Vomit, and Medical trauma

Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Death of parent

kcraig73's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely thrilling. This book genuinely scared me. The fast paced spiral into complete insanity, along with the insidious and beautiful nature of Amanda’s possession is completely captivating. This book grabbed me by the throat from the first page and it still hasn’t let go. I absolutely loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Kidnapping

emilybold's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

This book achieves a steady balance of gorgeously grotesque surrealism along side a grounded perspective. While I wouldn't describe the book as overtly 'funny', the frankness of the main character's narration has a sort of 'Fleabag-esque' quality to it; approaching it's dark and twisted plot with humour. The writing style was throughly engaging and I found myself siding with Amanda and even at times, with her demon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Vomit