Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

174 reviews

rochelleisreading's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Vomit, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Forced institutionalization

larareads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Self harm and Suicide

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

kodi5's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

amandatiesosmith's review

dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

lidenek's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Excellent book that works though some trauma around domestic abuse through a haunted house. Wonderfully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Vomit

Moderate: Mental illness

icecreamsoldier's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This was a fantastic read, easily became one of my favorite books of all times. The writing of this book was just beautifully crafted as the author is able to really set the scene of what is happening along with explaining in detail the horror of it while also adding hilarious bits and pieces that make this read such an enjoyable one. I felt so in love with the characters that at some point I was on the verge of tears of something bad happening to them. 

September house is a beautifully crafted horror story that narrates the horrors of a haunted house that ties together different topics and narratives going from mental illness to abusive relationships.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

dymonlikestoread's review

funny mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

✨Book Review✨

The September House 

Author: Carissa Orlando

Rating: 2.5 /5 ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Margaret and Hal have always dreamed of having their own home. When the opportunity arises Margaret jumps at the chance for them to finally have a place to call home. Everything seems to be falling into place a real fresh start for Hal and Margaret to work on their failing marriage. Until September comes when blood oozes from the walls, ear-piercing screaming at night, and the undead roam freely throughout the house.

I had high expectations for this book and sadly it was disappointing. I think the premise of the book was good but ultimately it got lost. Many parts of the book were repetitive and drawn out. There was no surprise or unexpected twist. In the end, I found myself speed-reading just so it could be over with. I think it reminded me of a low-budget horror film entertaining but predictable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

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

dfrancis's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a super interesting take on a haunted house. And I really thought it was interesting how the abuse tied in and contributed to Margaret’s reaction to the house. I see a lot of reviews say that it wasn't scary enough or that they were annoyed that Margaret is so casual about the hauntings. But I think Margaret’s response is what made it so interesting and engaging. Maybe it’s not the most terrifying (although the pranksters are creepy, and there are some gory descriptions here), but I still loved it. Possibly one of my favorite haunted house books I’ve read.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Suicide and Vomit