Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

58 reviews

lindsaybennett's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

Really well written book, i found it very poetic. Pretty dark, definitely check out the trigger warnings before reading. I liked the style of writing and the nuggets if profound wisdom throughout the book. It almost felt like i was reading a real person's journal, not a fictional novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

saintsramz's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

i hate them. ugly ass relationship. could neva be me. they need therapists. I will say though i love the way love is spoken about very very interesting for someone like me who thought they could never be worthy of love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

my girlfriend made me read this… and like i don’t even know this lady’s name but i hate her. good for her though.

camillej's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Death and Medical content

jaiari12's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Alcohol

crawforl's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

lauraegan's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I have never read a book as visceral and heartbreaking as this. Any earlier in my recovery and I couldn't have finished it, yet it still had me grimacing on the bus at my pain and hers. It felt so exposing and gratifying at once to see the feminine experience spelled out like this. The characters motives and mannerisms matched icons of my own life, and I felt shame for finding my own self-hatred in hers. When you're ready to face your relationships with yourself and others this is it, but read with caution as it may bring up some very hard feelings about sex and relationships. Whenever I need a wake up call about how I used to carry myself and still sometimes do this book is where I will always return.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

thesawyerbean's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-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

5.0

Wow, this was incredible. The writing was so raw, vulnerable and personal, and yet utterly intoxicating. 

The book centred on the whirlwind ‘romance’ between the narrator and Ciaran, laying bare the destructive force of obsessive love on the self. The narrator’s point of view, despite being unnamed, was so intimate that you felt everything that she went through. 

Interweaved with the affecting prose was nuanced and edifying commentary on sex, gender, consent, power and patriarchy, the male gaze and the violence of sex. The flash-forwards to 2019 Athens were rich and clear in these perspectives, providing a stunning contrast to the dizziness of the narrator’s thoughts and experiences in the main timeline. 

Overall, a staggering and important debut which left me stewing in thought for a while after.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

hbraz's review

dark reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

I hate men - and the narrator. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

kelleykamanda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

This is a painful read. It follows a character in an abusive relationship. The needing, longing, self destructive feelings are some that many people could relate to. The character finds herself watching what she's doing from outside her body, wondering why she is accepting this horrible pain... and then convinces herself that she must accept this "love" as it is all she is worth. I especially connected to the character's constant need for validation, especially from those who are hurting her the most. 

All in all, an exceptional read. Painful and sad, but truly brilliant. Put into words the experiences that many of us sadly go through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

sib_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Blood

Minor: Pedophilia