Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

73 reviews

daisy1_f's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence

tymtoread's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

Best parts about this book are the constant references to Dr. Marie Curie (who I wrote a paper about in middle school and worshipped) and the validation of being a woman in STEM. From thereon out, you can't really go wrong. 

Get u a man as pathetically in love with you as Levi is with Bee. Get u a girl as intelligently stupid about that love as Bee is with Levi. Get you some cats to keep you both company.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

ellacat11's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

Total P&P vibes with extra you’ve got mail  layer! Super steamy and super nerdy! Love the characters, especially the RA (who is basically April from parks and rec), the cats are a blast, and I LOVE that the science is legit!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Abandonment

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

backitupmoony's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Infidelity

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

challenging funny inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence, Car accident, and Death of parent

mlleelora's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

ninahuynh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

Wow! This was quite the roller coaster read, especially the last 3 chapters 🙊  I like the sexual tension between the characters in this book better than The Love Hypothesis. Though it's still unrealistic, it is more realistic and steamy than that of The Love Hypothesis. I found Bee annoying with her constant overthinking and self-doubt, but then start to relate to some of her insecurities 😳 especially with being scared and running away first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

lost_windsock's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

I enjoyed this book a lot. The writing in it was witty and intelligent, and I loved Bee's personality. I also loved Levi. Their romance followed a pretty typical formula that was easy to predict but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

ashleyvharris's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Nerdy science romance is a fucking delight and Ali Hazelwood proves it yet again in her second book Love on the Brain.

Ali has such a distinct writing voice that feels natural and engaging. I struggle with books that try too hard to be sarcastic and *witty* because it always feels forced and unnatural. Ali does not have this problem at all. Her jokes and dialogue read like a conversation with my friends. She makes it so easy to connect with her protagonists this way.

I’m a bit conflicted over the two main characters and their romance. Let’s be honest, I would commit crime for Levi Ward (also Rocio and Felicette). But it also felt like a near carbon copy of The Love Hypothesis. Levi and Adam Carlsen are almost interchangeable, no? And the Bee and Olive too. Their romances also felt very similar. It would have been great to see something completely different. Can I get a male scientist with golden retriever energy, please? 

No spoilers, but the ending felt… extra? Like I feel like it was a little too General Hospital telenovela-y. Like okay [villain], calm down, please. 

Also, my cat-loving hear was glowing. Someone send me links to Schrödinger and Felicette fan art please and thanks. Love them both and they obviously stole the show. 

With that said, my BIGGEST, most PRESSING critique of Love on the Brain is I NEED LEVI’S POV. LIKE YESTERDAY. Even more than Adam Carlsen, I was DYING to know this man’s thoughts. I want this entire book again but from his perspective, a la Midnight Sun. Do you hear me Ali? I need twenty-five (25!!!) chapters plus an epilogue with nothing but Dr. Levi Ward pining after Bee. Otherwise I will be talking about this every week in therapy.

If you like nerdy things, science, romance, or cats, you should read this lil’ gem of a book. It made my cold, shriveled heart happy :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, and Death of parent

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

While as a woman in STEM I really appreciated the messages communicated in the background of this book, it just wasn't quite as good as The Love Hypothesis. However, I'm a big fan of You've Got Mail and loved that this functioned as a retelling. I feel like in that aspect it was successful, despite falling a little flat. Don't get me wrong though, this is worth a read and I've even re-read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

As with The Love Hypothesis, this book is spicy and does have graphically described sexual content. It also takes place in a male dominated setting with a female protagonist which does lead to sexism and misogyny. The rest of the content warnings require some spoilers:

Early in the book it is mentioned that Bee's parents died in a car accident when she was little, but it wasn't lingered on. When we meet Levi's parents we find that they are very emotionally abusive. We also find out the Bee's previous fiancé had cheated on her repeatedly. Finally, the last content warnings refer to a scene late in the book where the MCs are being threatened at gunpoint and one of the MCs attempts to take down their attacker.