Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

4 reviews

jackie_reads_314's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I did have to put this book down for a little because it felt like I was being gaslit, just like Sydney. This felt like more of a horror book than a thriller; it almost felt like there would be supernatural elements at some points. The social commentary was exquisite, the characters relatable and believable, and the settings real. I would say that the first 3/4 of the book was an intense slow burn, and the last 1/4 was a racing and impactful end. I am very excited to read Alyssa Cole's next thriller in 2024!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racism, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Police brutality, Stalking, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Medical content, and Medical trauma

barefootbetsy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I really liked this. Yes, the pacing could’ve been more even, but the concept was solid and I enjoyed the story!  I, like many other reviewers, could’ve done without the romance subplot; but those issues aside, I thought the story was well done and it certainly drew me in quickly and thoroughly.

The history was fascinating and I have a new appreciation for how difficult (and horrifying) living with the remnants (and current iterations) of slavery and redlining and stolen land must be 😞

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Excrement

ehmannky's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Alyssa Cole is one of my insta-buy romance authors, so I was a little unsure of how this thriller would turn out. But it was so, so good. Everything from Sydney and Theo's chemistry to the slow unfolding of the mystery to the ways in which Cole put so much historical research into what she wrote. I also liked that Theo (and by extension any white readers) didn't have his white feelings coddled at any turn--he was called out and learned to take it. 

It's so good. The villains in this remind me so much of the Get Out villains, right down to the posturing at liberalism and progressive politics by the villains. And the twists in this book! When I tell you I gasped out loud, I am not being dramatic, I literally gasped out loud. The ending is wild, but wild in a way I liked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexism

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Alyssa Cole, who simply cannot pick a slay, has come for my edges yet again. I was so haunted and enthralled by this book the whole way through. As with her other books, this was very well researched. I also genuinely didn't know what was going to happen throughout. I do hope that this gets turned into a movie or TV show. I just loved this so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Vomit and Excrement

Gentrification,

Suicide

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Mass shooting

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Financial abuse

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Medical racism

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Gaslighting

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Emotional abuse