Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Acts of Desperation

The ending of the novel was one that left me with mixed feelings. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it’s one I feel like I need to sit in. I finished it last night and I’m still thinking about it and how it commentates on society through a feminist perspective. I would say that the main character’s monologue at the end was a message for the reader rather than one for herself. I was proud of her for finally being able to break that toxic cycles of abuse that she endured all her life, but it wasn’t in a way that made me jump for joy at her freedom. It was liberating in a very mellow sense and I think there should be more awareness on that, on how getting out of toxic/abusive relationships isn’t always a dramatic and happy ending, but rather one that feels like a fresh of breath air, knowing that there’s finally peace that in some ways, you still need to actively fight for. This is the first story I’ve read where the author did a great job in letting the reader inside the mind of someone who is currently suffering through a toxic/abusive relationship and the complicated feelings that come with it. There were times where I actually felt sympathy for her abuser even when I knew he’s the one that committed the ultimate evil. Overall, I would say this novel has a profound take on feminism, the struggles of women and their relationships with men, and the interesting psychology of a person in a toxic/abusive cycle (relationships or with themselves).

Content Warnings

marieantoinette's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-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

4.75

Content Warnings

morefolklore's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

hazedandwellread's review

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dark emotional 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

3.5

Content Warnings

jaymeleigh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

Content Warnings

applesodaperson's review

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fast-paced

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

3.5

So I understand what this book was trying to do, but that doesn't mean I had a good time reading it. It was honestly just sad and frustrating the entire time. Like this mess of a person is just being terrible and self destructive. And I don't always dislike when there is a protagonist that is an unlikable person, but I think this book made her so unredeemable that there was nothing left for me to get invested in and nothing to make me root for her despite her flaws. Like most of her problems were being caused by her, and were easily fixable, which made it so frustrating that she kept making the harmful choices. Also I would have understood her actions way more if Ciaran was like the dream man, but he literally sucks so so bad. He is such a horrible and trash person that I was just so frustrated that she kept pining after him over and over again. Also I really don't like how much she cheated. It was very hypocritical of her and she really should have just broken up with Ciaran instead of cheating on him a million times. Also, heavy trigger warnings for self harm, which I do not think the book handled or presented in a good way at all. At some point it just felt gratuitous.
Overall, I did not like this book, and even though I know what it was trying to say, it still wasn't enjoyable.
Read from the Provo library.

Content Warnings

sydneybedell's review

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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

Content Warnings

caitlynes91's review against another edition

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

4.0

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