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Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Illumicrate Edition) by Ashley Herring Blake
79 reviews
finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Tropes & Themes:
- lesbian x bi
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- small town
- opposites attract
- overcoming perfectionism
- bi awakening/comphet deconstructing
Spice: Smedium
3-4 explicit scenes with explicit language
My thoughts:Mixed feelings about this one tbh. I loved Astrid in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care so I thought I would love her own book even more...unfortunately not. It's turned out to be my least favourite of the series.
Don't get me wrong, I still love Astrid and I loved seeing her grow and finally stand up to her mom. It was mostly Jordan who I didn't vibe with. I thought I would grow to like her but it was kind of the opposite. I liked her less and less as time went on. Which is tragic because we're both Pisceans who consult our tarot cards for everything. We should totally vibe. I don't know, I just feel like Astrid grew a lot by the end of the book, whereas I felt like Jordan reall didn't.
By the end, she barely even set up boundaries with her ex. The one who called her current partner "some blond bitch" by the way, then proceeded to sabotage her relationship with her AND the job she was very financially dependent on. But in the end it was just "I need some space". Um, hello? That is blocking everywhere, no contact, fuck you very much behaviour...but that's just my opinion I guess.
But despite all that, Jordan kept acting like she was somehow better than Astrid. There are multiple examples but the biggest one for me was when Astrid's mom came over and chewed her out and Jordan somehow flipped that around and started insulting Astrid. Literally wtf?
Besides that, I also just kind of felt a lack of chemistry. Like they were sort of just chucked together and that's that. I wanted to see them actually getting to know each other but most of that potential time was taken up by drama. I love drama as much as the next person but in the words of Tati Westbrook: "Time and place". No cardinal sins were committed or anything but her attitude was really ticking me off y'know.
All that being said, I did really like Astrid, like I said at the beginning. I'm glad she finally stood up to her mom but I'm also glad Isabel was willing to change. That was a pleasant surpise. With all the "abandoned parents" FB groups out there, it's nice to see a parent take accountability for their emotional abuse and actively work to repair their relationship with their child. Love that for Astrid.
Anyways, onto Iris Kelly. I've been really liking her so far so I'm 90% sure I'm going to love her book...hopefully. (Spoiler alert: I loved it and it ended up being my favourite in the series)
- workplace romance
- forced proximity
- small town
- opposites attract
- overcoming perfectionism
- bi awakening/comphet deconstructing
Spice: Smedium
3-4 explicit scenes with explicit language
My thoughts:
Don't get me wrong, I still love Astrid and I loved seeing her grow and finally stand up to her mom. It was mostly Jordan who I didn't vibe with. I thought I would grow to like her but it was kind of the opposite. I liked her less and less as time went on. Which is tragic because we're both Pisceans who consult our tarot cards for everything. We should totally vibe. I don't know, I just feel like Astrid grew a lot by the end of the book, whereas I felt like Jordan reall didn't.
By the end, she barely even set up boundaries with her ex. The one who called her current partner "some blond bitch" by the way, then proceeded to sabotage her relationship with her AND the job she was very financially dependent on. But in the end it was just "I need some space". Um, hello? That is blocking everywhere, no contact, fuck you very much behaviour...but that's just my opinion I guess.
But despite all that, Jordan kept acting like she was somehow better than Astrid. There are multiple examples but the biggest one for me was when Astrid's mom came over and chewed her out and Jordan somehow flipped that around and started insulting Astrid. Literally wtf?
Besides that, I also just kind of felt a lack of chemistry. Like they were sort of just chucked together and that's that. I wanted to see them actually getting to know each other but most of that potential time was taken up by drama. I love drama as much as the next person but in the words of Tati Westbrook: "Time and place". No cardinal sins were committed or anything but her attitude was really ticking me off y'know.
All that being said, I did really like Astrid, like I said at the beginning. I'm glad she finally stood up to her mom but I'm also glad Isabel was willing to change. That was a pleasant surpise. With all the "abandoned parents" FB groups out there, it's nice to see a parent take accountability for their emotional abuse and actively work to repair their relationship with their child. Love that for Astrid.
Anyways, onto Iris Kelly. I've been really liking her so far so I'm 90% sure I'm going to love her book...hopefully. (Spoiler alert: I loved it and it ended up being my favourite in the series)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Toxic relationship
Minor: Outing, Homophobia, and Vomit
emikateb's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Chronic illness
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Classism, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
marisamoo's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
Minor: Body shaming, Biphobia, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
Cheating, divorce, mentions of toxic relationships and death of parents.fuzzywilson's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
deni's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Cancer
yikeslou's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
GOD I DEVOURED THIS BOOK IN A SINGLE SITTING!!!! ANOTHER ABSOLUTE BANGER FROM ASHLEY HERRING BLAKE!!!!!!! WERK BITCHHH
((astrid parker u relatable sonofabitch u))
((astrid parker u relatable sonofabitch u))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Cancer, and Alcohol
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Ok so these books just don’t miss, huh? The banter, the character development, the spice?! 🌶️😅 Five stars all around.
I love Astrid. I loved her even in the first book when she was cast almost like a villain. She deserves a happy ending (in every sense) and some goddamn joy and FREEDOM. I’m so happy for her! Jordan was a little harder for me to love, probably because the things that I dislike the most about myself, I saw in her 🙃 She is so good for Astrid, though!
Continuing my Enneagram typing of the Bright Falls characters - Jordan gave me major 4w5 vibes. I maintain that Astrid is a 1w9, Claire a 9w1, Delilah an 8w9 and Iris a 8w7.
Really looking forward to jumping into Iris Kelly next, but first I’m off to spend the rest of the evening on Etsy hunting for a very specific type of necklace 😏
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Death, and Alcohol
sariereads's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Toxic relationship
hayleyvem's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
thaliareads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was a re-read for me, and the book was just as good the second time around. I love Astrid's journey of trying to figure out her identity and how that fits into her views of herself and how others have viewed her. I also love Jordan's journey of learning what love can look like again and learning to trust herself and her feelings. Also you can't go wrong with a renovation as the backdrop of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship