Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

35 reviews

lexbox's review

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense medium-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

3.75

Fun feels like the wrong word to use, but this book was a fun, quick read, not too dark (as far as exorcisms and demons go). If you’re looking for your standard exorcism fare with 80s nostalgia flair and a cast of mean girls, this is the book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence and Domestic abuse

amelia_horseman's review

challenging dark funny sad tense fast-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

aspiringvilliagewitch's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Animal death

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Body horror, Blood, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death, Death of parent, and Cursing

intentional murder of a dog

roanjackal's review

dark emotional funny reflective medium-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

4.25

I found the book good overall. It felt a little dragging in the secon third but really picked up and became wild in the last third.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape

emry's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Eating disorder, Vomit, Violence, Bullying, Self harm, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Animal death

themissyreads's review

dark emotional hopeful tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This one Creeped me OUT. Made me CRY. Had genuine social commentary and did a spin on an old story in a way that felt New and Different. 5/5 would reccomend. Check the TW/CWs tho. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body horror, Torture, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Classism, Mental illness, Self harm, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Animal death

Minor: Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Forced institutionalization

Restrictive dieting, parental neglect, discussion/referenced Satanic Panic, referenced divorce, Institutional violence, powerlessness,

Main Character Death (but not the way you think)

leahopkins's review

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

This review contains slight spoilers!

I loved this book! It was funny, wholesome, at some points sad, grotesque (the worm scene) and even scary, but not true horror. The focus was more on the friendship between the protagonists, Abby and Gretchen. It was such an amazing depiction of intense platonic love (so intense that I wished it turned into romance at times, but I'm actually pretty glad it didn't), especially the ending was so touching. 
I also loved how the author picked up on classic horror tropes, but twisted them to make them more fun (for example the exorcist not being an old priest, but a gym bro in his 20s; or the ending of the exorcism scene). 
The overall makeup of the book is also amazing. The cover is so unique, as well as the dedication in the beginning, the authors note, and the fact that all the chapter titles are song titles. It was so fun listening to the playlist while reading; it really helped to feel those 80s vibes, and I also ended up finding some new songs to add to my own playlists.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book, even though it's not the kind of genre I usually read. I already bought another one of the author's books, and I can't wait to start it.

(PS: I recommend to check the content warnings if there are some things that upset you (like vomit. a lot of vomit.))

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Eating disorder, and Vomit

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Drug use and Addiction

snazzy10101's review

emotional funny tense fast-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

4.0

wasn’t expecting it to end the way it did and now i’m crying

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Rape, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug use, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

moraina's review

funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Cute read, very reminiscent of Stranger Things and Goosebumps. The ending felt a bit rushed and I wasn’t super attached to the characters, so it didn’t feel very impactful. Overall, it was a fun, casual summer read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Bullying, Blood, and Eating disorder

sydneynorman's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

TRIGGER WARNINGS: SEXUAL ASSUALT AND MURDER OF PET DOG

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Racism, Alcoholism, and Animal death