Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Sign Here by Claudia Lux

27 reviews

emilyyjjean's review

dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

This was so freaking good! I read it so quickly, because I could not put it down. I liked the change in perspectives throughout the story. I felt like it kept the story fresh and interesting.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Abandonment, and Child abuse

Minor: Torture

missjoni's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• 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: Self harm

Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Gun violence, and Grief

Minor: Suicide

spicycronereads's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted sad 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

4.0

I listened to the audiobook, performed by Macleod Andrews and Brittany Pressley. It was a lot of fun.

This book is really hard to describe. It is part absurd workplace comedy (where the workplace is hell) and part thriller. 

There are two parallel narratives, one following Peyote Trip, the hell salesperson charged with closing deals. We see what happens to his work life when a new woman joins the organization. The other narrative centers on a family going to their summer house in New Hampshire. 

The first half of the book really centers on the absurdity of hell and building the tension around this family’s summer vacation. And then it takes a pretty dark turn and the thriller aspects ramp up. 

I won’t say much more for fear of spoiling it but there is character development and it happens in some surprising ways. Speaking of surprises, I guessed a few of the twists but at least one got me. 

There is pretty much no diverse representation. Everyone is white and the family on earth has multi-generational wealth. 

The audio performances are great. I loved Macleod Andrew’s’ take on Peyote’s voice and Brittany Pressley really brought bone head teenage boys to life while simultaneously capturing women in a variety of ages. 

Overall, I really enjoyed it. To the point that when I got home from work yesterday with only an hour left to go, I listened to the rest from the couch (I normally only listen while driving or doing housework). It also made me feel totally justified in my dislike of Jagermeister. 😂 IYKYK. It is a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Abandonment, Torture, and Self harm

Moderate: Infidelity and Murder

Minor: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

Cult,

reedcodes's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Self harm, Murder, Grief, Alcohol, and Infidelity

Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Cursing

Minor: Cancer, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, and Pedophilia

micaelamariem's review

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

2.0

This book would’ve been better as a thriller without any of the paranormal/hell/demon stuff. It sounded cool but those were the parts that bored me. Reading about the family on earth was interesting, but overall could’ve been done better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Violence, Death, Sexism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Blood, Car accident, and Murder

jennabeck13's review

dark funny slow-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

2.0

Sign Here by Claudia Lux

⭐️⭐️ (2/5)

Genre: Fantasy/Horror

About 400 pages

Peyote’s job is hell. But no, like literally hell. He works on the fifth floor of hell getting humans to sign here and sell their souls to get whatever they are “praying” for. Right now, Peyote is focused on getting a deal with someone from one particular family, The Harrisons. If he gets one more deal with a Harrison, he will have what is termed a “full set” which is an accomplishment in itself, but he has a different reason for wanting that set… Told from Peyote and several members of the Harrison family’s perspectives, we read about the summer that may make or break Peyote’s dreams.

This one started strong for me… I thought the concept was super fun and creative, and enjoyed the way Peyote narrated. However, as the book went on, I started to lose interest and found myself skimming at times. It was obvious the stories from all the narrators and the past & present were intended to connect, but it took too long for Lux to get there. The two stories ultimately felt forced together once they did connect as well. I started this right before Halloween hoping to end the spooky season strong, but unfortunately, that plan fell through 😕

Favorite Quote: “As far as I can tell from my observations, growing up seems to involve a lot of false starts, a lot of broken promises. The realization of the world as something neither for you nor against you, but rather uninterested in you entirely. No matter how special you are, how many gold stars you receive, the world itself is incapable of loving you.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Drug use, and Sexual content

margaret721's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Body horror, Violence, Child death, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Blood, and Trafficking

lsmock's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

loved it! super interesting and complicated plot that was unique and creative but entertaining 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Death

casber's review

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Infidelity, Cursing, Gun violence, Death, Alcohol, Child death, Eating disorder, and Body horror

Moderate: Suicide, Drug use, Abandonment, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Abortion

annorabrady's review

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

The premise was interesting and the writing compelling, but I still struggled through a good portion of the book. Especially in terms of Silas' interactions with Ruth, who was only a 10th grader. 

Also, climax of the story was really good but the epilogue ruins it, in my opinion.

The whole time traveling aspect, especially one so far before the main storyline, means none of what happened in the story matters. Because even if somehow all the events happened as they happened before the story began, the events of the climax couldn't happen because there wouldn't be a reason for him to intervene.

If you struggle with eating disorders, self harm, and suicide, procede with caution with this book. 

Another note on the ending,

I thought that Mickey was the one in the family that Pey needed to get a "complete set" since he rushed to save her as she became "disconnected." So I was very much confused when Mickey still died and then the deal was made with Silas.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Child death, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Gun violence, and Suicide