Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill

8 reviews

jlye's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked the themes of this book, but don’t want to give too much away in a review. I found the plot to be quite fast-paced until I got closer to the ending. The characters are deeply, deeply flawed, which made for an interesting story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Murder, Transphobia, and Child death

navitalks's review

dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is the best book I’ve read in the last few years. The writing is incredible and the story is never to be expected. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Abortion, Cursing, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

pbella3's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Body shaming, Abandonment, Murder, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Death, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Rape

s_lorenz's review

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Alcohol, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

jennazim's review

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Child abuse

sparklesxx's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Child abuse

freyanjani's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I saw this book reccomended by someone I follow on Instagram and loved the cover, only knew it was somewhat gay so I was sold. But it was so much more than what I thought. This book was a roller coaster ride and I saw reviews saying it was too long and dragged out but in every turn there is always an unexpected twist, especially in the second half. Genuinely the first time I read a 400 page book and didn’t realize it was 400 pages, one of the only books I read this year that kept me wanting to read more. 

It was queer in a really theatrical way, and I liked that it wasn’t advertised or written to be an exclusively queer story about two women in love with each other—it had everything in it. Snarky feminism, a twist on history, the cobweb of privilege, class struggle and the exhilarating side of a revolution. It’s a really unique call out of capitalism, and a fresh look on feminism. I just loved when fiction tries to intertwine with real history, especially the wordplay on the main characters’ names (Mary Antoine and Sadie Arnett). A really refreshing historical fiction. 

My ADHD brain also loved how the book has very short chapters so it didn’t feel like I was reading a long book. It felt like reading proses that was easily digestible even though it was so decadent with thought-provoking ideas. 

My only critique for this books how it describes George. It just didn’t felt right to me that she was constantly described as ugly, at times it felt unnecessary. Even though in the end it’s sort of explained why she was seen as ugly… just didn’t feel too right for me that the only gender non conforming character is being described with such negativity but I digress. I do think it’s cool to explore George’s gender identity from the POV that she was a biological female, it made me think of myself which was nice in a way. I do think we should have gotten more of George and less on Marie and Sadie’s insanity but again, I digress. Also one more critique is the fatphobic remarks on Marie’s “fatness” when she was a child. Like idk. I thought it wasn’t THAT necessary.

This has been my favorite 5 star read of the year. Very thought provoking, engaging, and radical. If it was more compact and shorter, I think it would reach a wider audience. Will be exploring more of the author’s works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Abortion, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse

sjames's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Rape, Animal death, Blood, Abortion, Classism, and Forced institutionalization