Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson

8 reviews

catriona176's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can’t remember the last time I detested a character as much as I detested Ray Hanrahan, and I read a lot of books about serial killers 
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raspberrythriller's review

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

2.0

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juno_enb's review against another edition

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

3.75

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nerdyprettythings's review

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  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is well-written, but it’s an absolutely infuriating read. Lucia is a well-regarded artist, but the biggest thing in her life, before her art, her well-being, or her children, is being a wife to her (unsuccessful) artist husband. She develops cancer, discovers her husband has been cheating, begins an affair with a female MP, but none of this leads anywhere. Lucia will always be berated by her husband (Ray) and turn down opportunities because of his professional jealousy.
All of Lucia’s children are also emotionally abused by their father in some way, and they carry this submissive dynamic into relationships with their partners. 
The book sort of took a comical route, every character is so over the top. But I couldn’t lean into the hilarity of the situation (missing that your wife is cheating because you think she’s conspiring to ruin your non-existent career) because Ray is just so abusive constantly.
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madamelacy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.25

A narcissistic ‘artist’ gaslights his wife, Lucia, an artist in her own right, and his children. I didn’t like the plethora of half-finished sentences in the dialogue because they spoilt the flow a bit for me. I found Lucia so frustrating because I just wanted her to strike out on her own. I think her reactions were credible though, after years of being demeaned and bullied. 
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annabella's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Ray was really really infuriating which I guess means it was written well but it did get a bit much. Especially as an audiobook. Was cool to hear about art exhibition world stuff. 
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beriboo's review

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dark funny reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a story about a dysfunctional family, Mum, Dad and three adult children (plus a boyfriend) over the course of one weekend. Ray (dad) is an artist and a horrible narcissist who is putting on an exhibition for the first time in years. His wife, Lucia, is timid and has been emotionally abused by Ray for decades, she is carrying some secrets with her though, hoping Ray won’t find out. Their eldest daughter Leah is obsessed with her father, the youngest Jess seems to hate everyone including her boyfriend Martin. And the brother Patrick is trying to recover from a nervous breakdown but is used by Ray and floats on the outskirts of the family. 

This is a strange one. None of the characters are likeable, some you pity, others you will despise. Still, I could not put this book down, I wanted to see what happened between them. Would anyone get their just deserts? Would there be some resolution.?

Throughout the story are little hints of a secret or something to come that just keeps you hooked right to the end. 
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katewhite77's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a tricky one.
For such a funny book it had such a depressing plot. None of the characters bar one are particularly likeable and he doesn't feature very much at all. The main character is a complete monster. 

Like I say it was very funny in a dru sort of way and it did become gripping towards the end. 

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