Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

131 reviews

cal428's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was quite the ride. I love horror as a metaphor and think there’s commentary here around agency, women’s stories and sanity that are all interesting, even if some aren’t fully fleshed out. Lots of gore, good twists and a satisfying (in my opinion) end. Definitely check the content warnings, but definitely a worthy addition to spooky season reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

togglesmcbobbins's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

There are things I really liked about this one and things I really didn't like about this one. 

I liked the unique take on a classic haunted house.

I liked the undertone of it being a metaphor for being in an abusive relationship and how hard it is to leave that world

. I love how creepy it was (seriously, I regret reading the end in bed at night).

I also really love Fredrika. 

I absolutely hated the daughter because she had no depth.

It was hot-headeda cursing and yelling the whole time with no lows, just highs. The way she treated her mom and her constant attitude towards everything was exhausting.

I also understand that the mom's denial and lies to hide the goings-on in the house were part of the aforementioned abuse metaphor. HOWEVER, it was overdone to the point of not being believable. This made the end feel frustrating and messy when she finally began to tell the truth rather than satisfying.

Overall, a fun book, but not a repeat read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

kirsty_irwin's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Gory and wholesome all at once. This book gives Beetlejuice and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children vibes, while also being a fast-paced thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Grief, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing

Minor: Alcoholism

erinjeanette's review

dark funny mysterious slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Vomit, and Murder

ravenpuff's review

emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

comfysocksfairylights's review

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and Murder

blackeyedraptor's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.75

I love the author's style in this book! Her style was so simple and straightforward, her characters are well fleshed out, and her ratio of backstory mixed with current story was just perfect. 

It's a great book for anyone who loves a classic haunted house, spooky story. The house is always haunted, but in September, the house goes haywire. 

My only complaint: why did the ghosts wait for the protagonist to take down the antagonist? They could have very easily all taken him down long before the protagonist showed up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Cannibalism

dapperladyaf's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

gogglor's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh I just loved this book. The metaphor of putting up with a haunted home as putting up with an abusive husband is just so perfectly done. I guessed the twists early so not five stars, but this book was so good it almost didn’t matter. Highly, highly recommend.

UPDATE: had to change it to 5 stars because it’s months later and I’m still thinking about this book and recommending it to anyone who’ll listen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

The only animal death is repeated mention of birds crashing into the outside of the cursed house, and that’s not a spoiler.

emreads56's review

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Blood