Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Caught Up: Into Darkness, Book 2 by Navessa Allen

72 reviews

cheryl_gager's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I do think I preferred Lights out but this was a good time. I know that it is highly possible that the mood I was in, which caused me to take so long to read this, effected my enjoyment a bit. I loved Junior as you could tell he could be dangerous when needed but he was also sweet and thoughtful and he had it so bad for Lauren, His pining was so good. I liked Lauren for the most part as she was strong and so self assured, especially when it came to her sexuality. I loved how body and sex positive she was. However, at times I found her somewhat childish in the way she refused to talk or interact with Junior for different reasons and I started to get annoyed with how immature it felt like she was sometimes being. I wouldn't have minded if it was anger that was the reason she wanted nothing to do with him and she communicated that but it didn't feel like that was what it was. I loved Lauren's friends as she constantly had me laughing, especially Taylor. This was a second chance romance I could get behind, as I did make sense as to what stopped them the first time and how it would be different now. There was a sort of third-act breakup but it really wasn't which worked for me well also. Overall, this was a good time and the spice was spot on, just maybe I was not in the right mood for it and that may have held me back from enjoying it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Abandonment

Junior and his family are a part of the Mafia so there is discussion of what he has had to do in the past and at least one moment of on page sort of torture to get what he wanted. There is discussion of blood being present and cleaning it up. Lauren is a cam worker and there is a 'play club' so sex and kinks are very predominant in this.

hrts4jah's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful 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: Sexual content, Murder

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Alcohol

audgepodge1899's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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: Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment

jujubean64's review against another edition

2.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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the only reason I didn't DNF this is because the voice actors are carrying the whole book on their backs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Stalking

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship

Minor: Biphobia

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I heard about this novel online and was curious to read it.
"Caught Up" is a dark romance that follows Nico and Lauren. Nico knows that he should stay away from Lauren because their fathers do not get along, but he has always had a soft spot for her. Now that they are adults, Nico has discovered that the once timid girl he knew has a highly popular online platform of the adult variety. Lauren has never forgiven Nico for what he did to her in high school, but she also cannot deny the attraction she feels for him all these years later.
I enjoyed this story far more than I thought I would. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was that it was a second chance romance. Nico and Lauren knew each other from when they were younger, and they did date when they were in high school. I loved seeing them find their way back to one another in their adult years.
This book was very spicy, but it still managed to balance a pretty great plotline. I enjoy my romances with a little bit of spice, but I appreciate all the more when it is not pure smut. I want a storyline and to see the characters grow and evolve as people.
Despite being a dark romance, there was great care and consent in this novel. Both Nico and Lauren had a lot of respect for one another despite that both had jobs that a lot of people would judge them for. They were the perfect blend of supportive while not being afraid to call each other out when they were in the wrong.
If you like smut with a shadow of darkness, I recommend this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I can't help but feel giddy about these characters. It's a core example of "I would never in real life," but I think that's what makes the dark romance subgenre tick. 

Caught Up is such a character-driven romp that I was deeply unbothered by any plot holes (and there were a few). But Navessa Allen writes propulsive romance that has me turning the pages as fast as I can. I also loved getting to see some of the characters from book one, Lights Out. Eagerly awaiting where this series goes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Physical abuse, Cannibalism

liaantje's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Gore, Vomit, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

dealfea's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Not quite as funny as the first book but still very enjoyable. I especially loved Lauren's relationship with Taylor and Ryan. The scene's at "Velvet" were incredibly hot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Stalking

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol

dawson001's review against another edition

4.25

dark

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I didn't get very far on my first attempt to read this one, maybe four chapters, but I gave it another attempt and am glad I did. If I hadn't read Neon Gods by Katee Robert earlier this year, I'm not sure I could have appreciated this one as much as I did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content

ilmiruth's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Stalking

Minor: Vomit