Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

24 reviews

heatheronthego's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Outing, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Abortion

Minor: Deadnaming

rebleejen's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.0

This had major After School Special/Very Special Episode vibes, but it was engrossing and overall very good. (I didn't love the final twist, but I would have been mad if they hadn't solved the central mystery, so I guess I can't complain.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide attempt

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

I'm just so tired of the mere existence of trans people being a "shocking plot twist."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Abortion, and Alcoholism

sarahreadsbooks7's review against another edition

Super distributing and dark - personally I have the news to read to fulfill that purpose.

But, all jokes aside, deals with tough themes including suicide and abuse. Not sure if it’s relevant to the plot (didn’t get far enough) but was too dark for me as it didn’t have a hopeful angle. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Sexual assault

dixiecarroll's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.25

4.25 because of timeline confusion. I recommend going in totally blind, if you can. If you want to check triggers SG has them! I had a complicated relationship with Jodi Piccoult after some of the books I read in college, but as I grew so did she - this was so refreshing and sad and mysterious. Def move this up on your list! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Transphobia, Death, Self harm, Child death, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Murder, Grief, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

rachelmerrie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

So so so so so necessary.

Hated part of the ending: (VAGUE SPOILER)
Why did she get a slap on the wrist when he would’ve had his whole life taken from him? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Alcohol, Murder, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Body shaming, Homophobia, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and Hate crime

shellynna's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Child death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Bullying, Violence, Sexual assault, Outing, and Grief

livlosiewicz's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious 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

5.0

 Pros: 

·I really enjoyed this book. It’s engaging and suspenseful, dealing with lots of important themes and likable, compelling characters 

·I liked the way the book ended- with things not really being perfect at all because moving on from hard things takes time 

·The book explores the complicated issue of intimate partner violence and its potential trickle-down effects in a really compelling way 

·I didn’t look up anything about this book or the authors beforehand so I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of the twists, giving me several “!!!” moments while reading 

 

Cons: 

·The backwards timeline for Lily was a cool gimmick, but also a little confusing, especially because they had several fights that became trickier to keep track of. Additionally, Lily’s ending chapters felt a little more gratuitous, while Olivia’s ending chapters advanced the plot, and this imbalance was striking to me. 

·

I liked the reveal at the end but I wish Maya’s main motive hadn’t been that she was in love with Asher. Idk that felt like a bummer to me.

 

Recommendation: I recommend for those looking for an engaging book that also deals with important themes. I love Jodi Picoult books, and this felt similar to some of her older works (less like her most recent three novels). I especially recommend to people who like learning things; there are lots of fun honeybee facts in this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death

emmalyn_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

It took me a few days to process this story and I think I am finally ready to write my review. 
This was a HARD story to read with a serious nod to some pretty heavy topics such as domestic abuse, transphobia, suicidal attempts, death, bullying, sexual assault, physical abuse, self harm, child abuse, abortion (briefly mentioned) and murder. 
I really, really enjoyed this book. I found it very thought provoking, mysterious, gripping and educational on

trans experiences.

I went into this book VERY blind (I didn't know what category to set it under lol) and I was very impressed to learn that it was cowritten and you couldn't notice the "hiccup" in the styles what so ever. This is the first Picoult book I wrote and I am happy to say I will return to her. 
This very gripping, emotional and dark book covers a lot of dark things, as mentioned above. 
I loved the back stories as well. I loved seeing how Olivia, through trauma colored glasses, could see her son doing those things to Lily. Trauma often clouds our perception and what's in front of us in all future relationships and seeing that so broadly shown, unabashedly, was strongly appreciated. I feel that was portrayed well with Olivia and even Lily and even some in Asher. 
Things that I really hated about this book that cost it a star: the END. Almost everything about the end of this book pissed me off. 

You are REALLY going to wait til the last chapter to show that it was Maya that caused Lily's death and then have her picked up, questioned and AQUITTED. Where tf was Asher's acquittal?? Why did HE get sentenced and tried? Also, why did it take them SO long to get a second opinion on her death certificate? Wouldn't that have been step one? To rule out any underlying medical conditions that might have been missed? Also, I can't help but feel this was a set up to get Mike and Olivia talking, which is just *shudder*.

So overall, a very moving, dark, challenged, sad read but one I thoroughly enjoyed; until the last chapter anyways. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Abandonment, Death, and Hate crime

Minor: Abortion

dernhelms_bag's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring slow-paced

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

5.0

This is basically To Kill a Mockingbird but begging oblivious readers capable of human empathy to give a shit about trans people. I DO NOT recommend this to trans readers or anyone who already has trans people in their life they love and respect because this is intentionally deeply upsetting.  A trans woman and activist asked Picoult to write this with her to make an appeal to society to do something about the violence and persecution.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Outing, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Death, Abortion, Medical content, Hate crime, and Animal death