Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon

44 reviews

psnchz's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Rape, Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Murder

readsknitsrepeats's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thrillers are usually my thing but this book hooked me from the start. Filled with questionable choices and people at their worst. Excellent suspense and twists

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Alcoholism, Addiction, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Drug abuse

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Stalking, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, and Rape

emrichards's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

Minor: Animal cruelty and Torture

chuckyinspace's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Drug use, Stalking, Murder, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Minor: Misogyny, Cancer, and Sexism

vintesta's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Addiction, Death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Drug use, Murder, and Rape

booksojwhi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Drug use, Sexual assault, Addiction, Stalking, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

chrisljm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.25

Very enticing but also an irritating read because I hate the miscommunication trope, and I just wished Oliver communicated to Nathan at least ONCE. But that probably wouldn’t have made for a good thriller I guess. 

I found all the characters to be unlikable but I have to say I specifically hated Oliver and Nathan together, which was very irritating to read about. Nathan is an insufferable piece-of-shit and Oliver is very passive. I do have some understanding for Oliver’s situation since it is due in part to his recovery from addiction as well as being in an unhealthy relationship, but goodness he made the most illogical decisions sometimes. I think it would have been interesting if the author went more in-depth, or gave some sort of resolution, about the power imbalance of their relationship, but I’m not sure if that would have made the book better or worse. However, I do think it would’ve shown growth in Oliver’s character if he came to that realization about his relationship with Nathan, which I don’t think he really did,

and so Nathan’s death can come across as a convenient conclusion to their relationship. I’m not mad about him dying tho!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gore, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Stalking, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Violence, Blood, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Vomit, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Grief, Classism, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Cannibalism, Rape, Child abuse, Self harm, Gun violence, and Animal cruelty

chityty's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

This book did not pick up til the 2nd half and by that point I really had to power through to keep reading. 

Characters are all deeply flawed and not the least bit likable and the plot driving mystery could largely be resolved by a few clear conversations about needs and wants. Instead we are led on a meandering tale that tries to bring it all together in the last 30 pages or so…..

Some of this is “tainted” by my own experience as a person in an open and poly relationship — Even though a queer writer I really got the sense this was written for straight people. The prevalence of open relationships and other non-heteronormative relationship structures in the queer community would have left there no plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Addiction, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking

m_d00lz's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship