Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

7 reviews

jennxreviews's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I didn't know if this was supposed to be horrific or hilarious, it turned out to be a roller coaster. When you think you know what's going on something will happen that will knock you down. 
Triggers for domestic abuse, alcoholism, child abuse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

wcont's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The September House is such a unique interesting idea and I enjoyed almost every moment of it. The concept is basically what if someone lived in a haunted house but was ok with it? What would it look like I someone was happy to persevere in that situation?

This excellent concept is supported with a snarky and almost sarcastic tone throughout which really resonated with me (one of the funnier books of the year for sure.) It gets into some heavy topics which are explored well- but I have to note that they cause some tonal issues. At a certain point this dark comedy stops being funny and there are no more laughs left.

This gets into the ending which is the weakest part of the narrative. For a book that relies on playing with tropes in unexpected ways, the end is very tropey and not especially satisfying. It's still a very good book, and 80% of it is amazing. This is an easy recommendation for spooky season (though some major trigger warnings are in store.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse

chris_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Drug abuse, Misogyny, and Vomit

kurumipanda's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Cannibalism

Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

outofthepinksky's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

nicolesanerd's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I’m not sure that I’ve ever facepalmed from a book as much as this one made me. The characters were frustrating, to put it nicely. The plot was also completely predictable. The book contained multiple instances of hints that made it very apparent while not saying it outright. I finished in hopes that it wouldn’t be the case, but unfortunately it was. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

madlyhaunted's review

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Alcohol