Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

32 reviews

agnesreads2042's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Rape

ewindtberg's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is the fourth book that I’ve read from this author and it did not disappoint. I kind of-sort of knew what the plot was going into it based on short summaries but I didn’t expect it to be what it was (in a good way). That shark scene though?! Bonkers. The ending was crazy and creepy. Did I still read it and recommend this book to friends afterwards? Most definitely lol. Check the TWs as this book is not suitable for anyone under 18.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

Sawyer is on the run and hiding in  Australia. To get by, she has been stealing people's identities. Fate throws her in to Enzo's path and bed. After realizing his identity has been stolen, Enzo sets out to track down and punish the woman responsible.

The idea behind this book was interesting to me.

Two people who hate each other get shipwrecked on an isolated island where there is nothing but a creepy old man and some noisy "ghosts".

I liked the mystery vibes to it. That said, the dark romance edge didn't really work for me and the twists were super predictable. 

First off, I didn't like either of the characters. Sawyer has a really fucked up past and is dealing with all sorts of PTSD from it. Enzo is a psychopath shark expert. There was nothing redeeming about him.

A woman steals his identity, and his reaction is that shark scene? WTF! Truly a psycho.

I just didn't care about either of them. It's a shame because with Sawyer's background, there was so much potential for readers to make an empathetic connection.

Second, both characters felt flat and there was a lack of chemistry between them. It was all about who could hurt the other more. Together they are completely chaotic and explosive (not in a good way). There was no real character development in this book. Neither were likable, nor were they really redeemed by the end.

I feel like this would have worked better as a regular thriller without the dark romance edge to it. Parts of this book just dragged so much, and they were always the dark romance parts.

Tropes' forced proximity, enemies to lovers, morally grey, one bed

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gun violence

c4chronicles's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s spicy. I enjoyed every moment of this book and everything the FMC had to overcome. 

I cannot get over H.D. Carlton and will read anything she writes. She could write a soup label and I would buy it to display in my home. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness

bibliophile1775's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Rape

puffins57's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I love the characters. I love the dialogue. The spicy scenes are hot as hell and the mystery/thriller-ish aspects certainly delivered (and I’m not one to really enjoy those mystery subplots all too much).

The first shark scene was just lovely and I very much enjoyed seeing the growth of both of our main characters. I especially appreciated the written and clearly expressed acknowledgment of shorty behavior and genuine apologies to allow for Sawyer and Enzo to start up anew with a fresh start and work towards a healthy relationship now built upon a toxic foundation.

I 100% would recommend this book. If you like this genre and are debating reading this book do yourself the favor and READ IT (though please keep yourself safe and look over the trigger warnings first).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death, Incest, Kidnapping, Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Police brutality

chainsiren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Rape, Suicide, Body shaming, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child abuse

katierosecrane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

staceyb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Confinement, Pedophilia, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

stitchof's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Police brutality, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Incest, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence