Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Los maridos by Holly Gramazio

46 reviews

kathleenivy's review against another edition

4.0

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Alcohol, Classism

hinkleh's review against another edition

3.5

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit

cdkm9's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-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: Yes

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This book was both entertaining and thought-provoking. At times it was funny or lighthearted, and at other times more serious and reflective. It was refreshing in that it was not an overdone storyline, the only other book I know of with a similar concept is The Midnight Library, but the vibe is very different. I was very impressed to learn this was a debut novel, and look forward to what she writes in the future!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment

blueskyreview's review against another edition

3.0

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was an entertaining read, but I'm glad it wrapped up when it did because the main character was starting to get on my nerves. I will say I wasn't able to guess who she ended up with, so props to the author for that 👏 

P.S. - Little rant without being spoilery, when our MC Lauren is talking to someone about previous relationships, and they say they haven't had just girlfriends. My first response wouldn't be "Oh have you had a fiancé? A wife?" 

No, Lauren - He's queer and he's saying he's been with other genders!

And to then proceed to stumble over using the word partners instead of girlfriends for his past relationships...idk, maybe it's just me, but I felt that with Lauren having a queer sister, who she is close to and is in a sapphic marriage, that Lauren shouldn't have been so awkward about it. 

Not that some families aren't like this, but I was annoyed by it lol.

P.P.S The above interaction was irksome but only lasted about a page. It was other questionable decisions that made me ready for the story to be done.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence

There is non-consensual drug use. It's only a chapter or so but wanted to note it.

vaykay's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Generally enjoyed reading it. I read this in tandem with my partner, which meant we would laugh over the jokes together. Good humor, good insight on diverse versions of men. Lauren is boring, and I felt that the twist at the climax made me realize we don't really know who Lauren is at all. I couldn't make sense of most of her actions, and the ending served as a reminder of her selfishness. This is a perfect example of either too short or too long; this could've been a novella or it must be 400+ pages long. Unfortunately, the last 100 pages felt rushed and as if the author just needed Lauren to do whatever (and very extreme things) just to rush the plot toward the finish line. Disappointing with little payoff. I enjoyed the tone and the characters as well as the concept and setting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy

blissofalife's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A new favorite for sure! Gramazio artfully explores the "what if?" thought exercise to the extreme. I saw so much of myself in Lauren, and couldn't help but wonder if I would go to similar extremes were I in her position. I thought the added details of the apartment changing with each husband and an entire history rewrite were brilliant! I felt her relief, her grief, and her mounting frustration and desperation. Her burnout was nearly palpable. 

The ending was satisfying, I think it was the perfect solution and provided a clean wrap-up of events. Part of me hopes that there will be a sequel where we get to explore the final decision and its aftermath, and part of me recognizes how perfect this was as a stand-alone novel. I look forward reading any future works by Holly Gramazio! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

5.0

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic

spaghettireads's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol

mandi_lea's review against another edition

2.5

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

lexistwick's review against another edition

4.25

funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

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It was laugh-out-loud funny at parts, the author captures many hilarious and realistic human quirks in the parade of husbands through the protagonist's attic. The plot was interesting, winding, and unexpected - which made it a slow read for me, but not unpleasantly so. It's a very original storyline that raises questions and makes meaning of modern dating and also meaning-making for life in general. It also wonderfully captures many unique aspects of marriage, at least many I could relate to from 8 years married so far.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail