Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

4 reviews

kwoot7's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Infertility, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion

rusty_moonshadow's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Grief, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Infertility, Alcoholism, Car accident, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Infidelity

Minor: Vomit

bmyurs's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Enjoyed this overall- it wrapped up quickly at the end but gave some modern insight to sexism, feminism, and gender stereotypes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent

Minor: Blood

alisonhp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Grim, but still beautiful and compelling, and very human. I’m not sure a novel about ballerinas would be believable if it weren’t depressing, and the story weaves a narrative that extends beyond dancers to women and the fight to exist in and beyond our bodies. The characters engage in a palpable struggle with aging, and the resilience in their lives and relationships felt unexpectedly uplifting to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship