Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

15 reviews

crypticspren's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

4* because I use the CAWPILE rating system. 

This book was honestly a complete rollercoaster for me. The book is split up into 3 sections. The first POV is Amber. Throughout this section I was very iffy on how I should feel. It wasn't morally grey... It was straight up morally awful and I felt a little uncomfortable at points. She is essentially a sociopath and con artist, intent on stealing a woman’s husband and doesn’t care who she hurts in order to do so. 

The second section is from Daphne's POV. This took me totally by surprise and gave the story an entirely new outlook. This section is also the one worthy of the trigger warnings. I have a personal history with this kind of stuff and the weight management element (if you've read it, you know exactly which bit I mean) absolutely floored me at once point... However, I think it got the balance between "trauma dumping" and "empowering story of survival" just right.

The third POV is a narrator that covers both. It is by far the most satisfying section of the book and the ending was really enjoyable for me for the most part. The way in which daphne played 2 sociopaths against each other and used their greatest weakness (their ego) to escape was nothing short of genius. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Amber “got what she deserved”. As someone who lived in an abusive relationship, I would go through it again to get to where I am now but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone - not even an enemy.

It is definitely a book I don’t regret reading, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone without a significant warning for its contents.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape

sldibened's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Outing, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Abortion, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Grief, Bullying, Child death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Rape, and Stalking

megs_readstoomuch's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cursing, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Confinement, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Violence, and Mental illness

daniellenelson's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Death, Chronic illness, Body shaming, Gun violence, Death of parent, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Classism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Gaslighting

kimveach's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.75

Apparently, I have read too many domestic thrillers as I've seen this plot before.  It's possible this book, published in 2017, was the first one to do it of the books I've read.  Thankfully, it was quick to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Toxic relationship

nicolesbookreviews's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Abortion, and Chronic illness

books4escaping's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Really liked - The story kept me engaged from start to finish. A similar plot to "The Maids Secret" by Freida McFadden. The difference is that I found The Last Mrs. Parrish execution better and more enjoyable. I'm glad Amber got what she desired.

Most memorable lines

I was learning that emotional intimidation could be just as unsettling as physical.

Amber needed order—disciplined, structured order. And now, finally, she was the master of her world. And of her fate.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

dizpig's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Torture

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Confinement, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Child death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Stalking, and Violence

ronnieb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Trigger Warning: Abuse, Rape, Forced Pregnancy, Fertility Issues, Abortion Discussions, Consent Issues

This was perfectly fine. The story follows a woman named Amber as she wiggles her way into the life of the Parrish family. The novel unfolds in a way you probably would think from there but it is still a fun ride to see how everything turns out. I think the strongest aspect of this book was the characters. I hated Amber and found her to be an annoying character but not in a bothersome way. The authors did a good job crafting her in a way to make the reader never be on her side. I think by the end of the book she was more cartoonish but in this soapy and over-the-top thriller it works. 

The book is split into three sections and the weaving of parts 1 and 2 was done well and connected some interesting scenes that had stuck in my mind. There is also a POV shift in part 2 and I think this was my favorite part of the novel but also where a lot of the trigger warnings start so it becomes a more difficult read. 

I think there is very little mystery or thriller present here. What is happening and going to happen is obvious but not foreshadowed. You must have seen this story before so you know where it will lead. There are some tense scenes toward the back half but they are scenes of abuse or characters being taken advantage of so it was difficult to read. 

There is also some weird talk surrounding abortion in this novel. It was blurring the lines and at times I could not tell if the authors were trying to sway me one way or the other. (I personally support abortion, and it seemed at times the authors didn’t) Just something I noticed and it was used as a plot point twice in this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Confinement

hellokatya's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

i read this book because i heard it was supposed to compare to verity by colleen hoover, and while it didn't really measure up, i still enjoyed it. it got very dark at points and depleted any hope i had for the human race, but i thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend for a quick, fucked up read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Death and Fatphobia