Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Playlist by Morgan Elizabeth

5 reviews

sadie_g's review against another edition

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

3.75

This is a childhood friends to lovers, best friend's brother, 'it's always been you' romance.  It is packed with Taylor Swift references, and the whole plot is a road trip that the main characters take and the MMC follows a TS inspired bucket list that the FMC made when she was a kid. 

Loved the representation of female friendships in this book. As much as I liked the main relationship and I was giddy while reading this. Some parts were a bit repetitive, mostly the problems that the MMC and FMC run into. She very much is not happy with her life and is going through a crisis about feeling the need to be perfect for her parents, and he is trying to fix this but he doesn't say the right things sometimes. 

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inkdrinkers's review

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

“Can I ask you a question?”

Zoe is convinced that the only way to live is to be successful - for her friends, for her parents, for everyone who knows her - all that matters is that they see that she has her shit together, when she very much doesn't. So when she suddenly discovers her childhood bucketlist and realizes she's let that little girl down in so many ways, she quits her fancy job, dumps her boring boyfriend, and spirals. When Zander, her best friend's brother, and someone who's always been there for her, steps in to whisk her away, Zoe wonders if maybe she can return to her old self with a little help.

I don't think a Morgan Elizabeth book exists that I don't shed ugly tears over. I really thought I was somehow safe with this one - even though Zoe's strict people pleasing tendencies cut me to the core, I couldn't see a reason why I'd be a bawling mess by the end. I was wrong, I cried like a baby the last 30% of this book and I don't even care. It was worth it. It was 100% worth it to feel so healed and seen by Zoe embracing her inner child, living life for herself, and have Zander be the best book boyfriend in the world who just wanted to see her happy.

So many of Morgan's books are love letters to Swifties, but this one is the ultimate one! I loved the nods to Taylor in every single chapter and moment, from the playlist itself, to the bucket list items, to even the references in text that weave in lyrics and references from her entire discography. I adored this book for so many reasons, but it had a little extra something with the reminder that, for so many fans, we grew up listening to Taylor age and sing about everything we hope to experience (and some things we don't).

I just loved this. I have to go blow my nose again and contemplate my existence.

Content warnings: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse/Toxic relationship (in past), Pregnancy (optional epilogue)

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frantically's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

Such a fun, quick read! 

Zoe and Zander have had feelings for eachother since their childhood and when their (finally) single at the same time, Zander forces (but not really) Zoe to go on a one-week road-trip together. Feelings and shenanigans ensue...

Elizabeth is getting better and better with each book and I'm so glad to see it. This was very character focused and less small-towny (because they're on a road-trip for 65% of the book) but I love character-focused books, so I'm not complaining.

There is a big focus on Zoe reconnecting with her childhood self and letting go of the control she so desperately clings to and Zander helps her through it all. Yes, this is childhood friends to lovers but it's still two adults also falling in love and that was handled really well.

I loved all the little Taylor references but it's not as Taylor-filled as it's sometimes made out to be and you can definitely read/enjoy if you're not a Swiftie!

The last thing I have to ask is: When are we getting the Sadie book 👉🏻👈🏻

P.S.: Why was the epilogue a) so long and b) took a total of 26.5 years (I counted), that's longer than my whole life 😭😭

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-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

2.75

"Don't judge a book by its cover," as the saying goes. Oh, I might as well start to follow that. Look at the cover—it has the lover sunglasses, the fuck the patriarchy red keychain, the mirrorball, the red converse, the letters—so it's Taylor Swift coded—and that's one of the things this book thrives at. Each chapter is titled after a Taylor Swift song, and the song title is tied to the chapter's content in some way. Other than that, let me go over the book's pros and cons. 
 
Let's start with the pros. It certainly contains well-thought-out information. It's quite difficult to connect song lyrics to chapter content. Next, it was clear that the author was really a swiftie. The author is knowledgeable of the references, dates, and so forth. Finally, I enjoyed how rom-com-y it was. If you need a good chuckle, the comedy in this book is not forced, unlike other novels. 
 
So, bear with me since the cons are numerous. To begin with, the characters were undeveloped. I mean, Zander was obviously awful from the start, but I was expecting for some character growth. He was extremely controlling and obsessed with her, which was really annoying. I get that he wants her to have fun, but with how controlling he is? I doubt they were happily married for at least three years. He was also subtly misogynistic, but the author will always pull the “he was raised with a feminist mother and sister” card. 
 
Zoe's character development was better than Zander's, although I wish she would speak up for herself in some instances. I don't have much to say about her other that, I found her relatable in some way. 
 
Zander and Zoe were... dare I say, toxic together? I mentioned earlier that Zander is rather controlling, and Zoe seldom speaks out for herself. Zoe didn't have the best communication skills either. Although the author implies that Zander knows her better than she knows herself, unless he's some kind of magician, which he isn't, Zander won't know all that runs through her mind. I wish Zander had allowed Zoe to speak out at some point, because he had crossed certain boundaries several times. 
 
Let's go on to the plot. The premise was fascinating, but the execution was poor. It became too repetitive. It's always Zander pushing Zoe out of her comfort zone, Zoe gets upset but eventually says yes, Zander does some romantic stuff involving Taylor Swift songs, then Zoe backs out because she's worried about the future. Furthermore, it was enjoyable for a time, but as you repeat anything, it definitely becomes duller. 
 
This novel is marketed as childhood friends to lovers, and don't get me wrong, that's exactly what it was, but there was something missing. If someone had warned me that the cheating trope was in this novel, I would have run away as fast as I could.
 
Finally, let us bring up the writing style. It was simple to read, a little childish at times, but still bearable. And though, a large chunk of this plot hinges, once again, around Taylor Swift references. Moreover, as much as I admire the author's use of Taylor Swift references, I found them to be too forced and cringe-worthy. It reminded me of me attempting to get my non-Swiftie friends to listen to Taylor Swift for the millionth time in less than a week. 

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rvidareads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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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