Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

50 reviews

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.

ilaxaria's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit

caseyhaunter's review

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Emotional abuse, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Fire/Fire injury

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

casparquarius's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

this was a fun read! I loved the POV character, and even when I wished she'd make different choices it was refreshing to feel like they all made sense for her. the ending felt like a kind of jarring tonal shift but it was also gratifying and enjoyable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

littlemountainchicken's review

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Vomit

flygonjinn's review

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

kaneebli's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

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

tristinrose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Minor: Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was better than I expected it to be. Until the last few chapters, I kept questioning reality and wondered how I could suspend reality at the same time. It was the same feeling I had watching Everything Everywhere All at Once. I loved the relationships Margaret cultivated. And I appreciated the mother-daughter dynamic too. That was probably the most real thing about the book and also the best part for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail