Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

57 reviews

cinnamxnstick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

My brain is so scrambled after binge reading this, it actually hurts?! 
This is every bit as fast-paced and addictive as everyone says it is! When I wasn’t glued to it for hours at a time, I was grabbing it at any quick moment I had just to get a little more. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it! 

I physically reacted to the twists many times to the point that my boyfriend was a bit concerned once or twice. Talk about gagged! 

None of This is True is a masterclass in unreliable narrators, and split timelines delivered via various devices from the queen of twisty thrillers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicide

alliluh's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.25

first half was really fun but then final 25% was sooo boring

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Murder, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Minor: Homophobia and Pandemic/Epidemic

situationnormal's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The title makes it pretty clear what the "twist" is going to be in this book, so it was highly telegraphed in a lot of ways, but I thought getting to the climax of the book was a lot of fun. The third part, as things unravel, was somehow less fun that the rest, though, and I thought things moved a little too quickly at the end for my tastes. I did enjoy reading this one, though, and flew through the second half to see maybe not what would happen but how it would happen.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

mklulux's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

Truly one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time. The audio format compliments the book so well with the podcast format.
As much as I enjoyed the overall plot, characters, rhythm and ambiance I have to say the victim blaming of a 13 year old child and the glossing over of the husband’s pedophilia made me really uncomfortable and was probably unnecessary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

mzmegara's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual violence

Minor: Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Child abuse

sierrabowers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I thought this book was fantastic. The use of interesting but unreliable characters has you hooked the entire way through. As you slowly start to figure out what is happening, putting the pieces together to solve the mystery of the main character, you realize that everyone is lying. Not just her. 

The ONLY thing I didn’t like was the fact that they tried to make a literal PEDOPHILE a victim in this book. No thanks. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Abandonment, Grief, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Confinement, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

apparatinglibrarian's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

This is the first time reading, Lisa Jewell. While I'm not well versed with her other stuff, I enjoyed this book. It was a solid 3 star read for me. It kept me engaged, and it was a fast read. While, I know they were including the podcast and Netflix angle in the book, I didn't like listening to it on audio. It was a little weird...? Maybe it was better organized in the book, but once I realized what the book was doing I was okay with it. Also, I'm not a big fans of thrillers with domestic violence of any sort. It's not my cup of tea, or a book that I enjoy. With that said, this had levity and I appreciated the criminal angle--it took away from domestic violence being the main character. I also liked the angle of the woman being the abuser--it's not often you see that in a book.  However, my 3 star reading is based on the fact of not being a fan of domestic thrillers, but is in no way against the writer. The writing and the plot was excellent. I would love to read more of her books, if there are some that don't include a heavy domestic thriller trope!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

altryhorn2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Excellent book! But I do feel like the book needs a warning, don't read it if you are faint of heart or easily disturbed because this book at times can be very disturbing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

menziesreads's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

4.0

Strong compelling thriller with lots of twists. Well plotted although one or two things seemed to not quite connect up. Note - lots of triggers. Brilliantly read by Nicola Walker.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, and Sexual violence

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Rating: 2/5 stars

Alix is a professional podcaster who randomly meets her birthday twin in a pub and decides to do a podcast about her life story.

This was November’s pick for my book club, and for once this was the one I voted for, so I have no one to blame but myself.

I really liked the writing style, podcast format, and short chapters, and overall the experience of reading was engaging enough that I will give this author another try. Unfortunately, the plot did NOT land for me in any way, shape, or form. I can’t be too detailed without extreme spoilers, but I felt like the twists were predictable, there was a problematic attempt at redemption, and a lot of the way important nuanced topics were handled was deeply harmful. I was also physically nauseous for a good chunk of the book, which was less than fun.

I have seen great reviews of this from others, so if it sounds interesting then give it a try! And if you want to discuss when you’re done, my DMs are wide open.

Try it if you like: podcasts; lots of secrets; super dark themes

CW: pedophilia/grooming; child abuse; domestic violence; murder/death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence