Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

47 reviews

theunfinishedbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

unviincible's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

funny, heartwarming, and so so feel-good in a way that's refreshingly honest

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Dementia

blewballoon's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-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

I grabbed this book based solely on the cover and title, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. It's funny and touching, and one of those books that highlights the goodness of humanity while acknowledging the flaws of people and struggles they face. I loved the train gang. I listened on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Racism, Medical content, and Death of parent

megaroo93's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Dementia

Minor: Cancer, Hate crime, and Suicide

dogsyarnandbooks's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

I loved this book! Such a fun, quirky cast of diverse characters, all brought together by unlikely circumstances. However, a lot of the reviews are calling this a “lighthearted read,” and while it’s certainly heartwarming and joyful most if the time, I think calling it “lighthearted” is misleading. It deals with some very heavy topics that could be off putting to someone who picks it up expecting all warm fuzzies. If you’re a sensitive reader, you may find it difficult in some parts, but it’s truly a wonderful book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Hate crime, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

pia_h's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Classism

imstephtacular's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, Dementia, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

brookesinfinitebooks's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Dementia

Minor: Emotional abuse

jaja_1212's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I picked up this book hoping for a heartwarming contemporary read for comfort and it was exactly that and more. I was quite pleasantly surprised how the author managed to balance just the right amount of emotional topics and moments, just the right dose of "kitsch" without overdoing it. The multiple POVs were well done, as was the pacing (sometimes reading more than 2 or 3 characters' POVs can feel like it's slowing down and dragging the story, which was not the case here). 
While I really enjoyed the characters and following their bonds forming, I would have preferred Bea's character to be more fleshed out than having a supporting character role. It seemed/felt like she was used as a bit of a device to make the Ionas character look good and to have more struggles for her character to work with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

atamano's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent