Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Wife Between Us: The First Four Chapters by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

14 reviews

crimsonash606's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This story is a tangled web that slowly unravels with time, leaving you hanging on small details as you're desperate for the answers.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Infertility, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual violence, Abortion, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Blood

aleilvandrea's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, Stalking, Addiction, Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Body shaming, Car accident, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal cruelty, Medical content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

salamipizza's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Car accident, Sexual content, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Classism, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Cursing

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

This book wasn't bad, not at all, however, the premise just isn't original. I recall myself thinking that this book resemble "The Last Mrs. Parrish" by Liv Constantine (I rated it 4 stars) a few times. They're not exactly the same per se; the writing styles and the way the story is told are different, however, they still possess similar tropes. Although I did like the storytelling of "The Last Mrs. Parrish" better. I think reading "The Last Mrs. Parrish" made me anticipate most of the twists so I didn't find many of them surprising. There was a twist that I didn't anticipate, however, I felt like that twist was unnecessary and was just there for shock value.

If anyone is curious, the twist I'm referring to is Emma being the daughter of the professor that Vanessa was victim to in college and her marrying Richard to hurt Vanessa.  I thought Emma's thought process was so stupid. Like, girl, you're really going to blame a college student for your father's infidelity?!🤦🏾‍♀️

Also, I think what lowered my rating for this book was that I felt like some loose threads weren't explained enough.

Like Richard's sister, Maureen, we never really get any explanation of her character and her motives. We're left to infer that she doesn't want Richard to get married and sabotages all the women that Richard courts, but we don't know anything further than that. I always got bad vibes from her and I was right considering we found out that she was the one that canceled the photographer for Vanessa's and Richard's wedding, but we're not told why. Lokwey, I know this is out of pocket, but I thought she "abused" Richard. I thought their relationship was odd. 

And what happened to the dog (Duke)? We never know and I know that's such a minuscule thing, but I was tearing up reading that chapter about him. Things about dogs always just get me.🤧

Also, I think it would've been nice if we got a little look into Richard's previous wife, (Kate, I think that was her name). I just found it interesting that both Richard's previous wives were following their "replacement". And I know I keep mentioning "The Last Mrs. Parrish", (it just did this trope so much better than this book in my opinion), but just like in  "The Last Mrs. Parrish" where the motives of the abuser were a bit more clear, I wish we found out what Richard's motive were when doing what he did. I know he's obviously the villain of this story but that doesn't mean he should be a flat character.

Overall, it was an okay book if you enjoy this trope and other books like it.

Also this is very inconsequential, but I don't think the people around Vanessa tried enough to warn her about Richard. They would make sly comments about how he was "too good to be true" but then wouldn't elaborate any further. Like yeah, of course, I'm going to think you're attacking my husband/boyfriend/fiance if you don't give me adequate reasons as to why you think he's off.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Infertility

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Cursing, Medical content, Mental illness, and Death of parent

samdalefox's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I read this as an audiobook. I find these types of thrillers do well in this format and I enjoyed listening to it. The book is a confident portrayal of a dysfunctional relationship (see the content warnings section for specifics as these could be considered as spoilers but are important to highlight), and the twists were enjoyable even if I did guess one or two - though not all!.

I think two quotes perfectly sum up the sentiments resting behind the story:

Richard: "I thought you could save me from myself". Vanessa to Emma: "A part of you already knows what he's like, who he is."

Take home message: believe women. Have solidarity with women. Work towards dismantling the patirachy and rehabilitating men who have never learned to love or respect themeselves or others.

One further note:

the Duke the dog going missing storyline hit me hard. I was devastated.

.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Medical content, Infertility, Sexual assault, Stalking, Body shaming, and Car accident

rachelfayreads's review against another edition

dark tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Infertility, Stalking, Addiction, Gaslighting, Abortion, and Sexual assault

mags88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.75

Twist and turns!
Loved how it came together! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Suicide, Addiction, Body shaming, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Abortion, Car accident, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage, Drug use, and Drug abuse

jkar7's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

The twists in the book weren't exactly unpredictable... there were a couple I didnt see coming. The plot was interesting, the way it intertwined, but I felt like the story could have focused more on fleshing out the side characters than what type of wines they drank. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Infidelity, Death, Car accident, Blood, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Classism, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infertility, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Drug use, Ableism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Alcohol, Stalking, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Car accident, Vomit, and Terminal illness

Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage

marisa_n's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Lots of twists & turns. Some were more enjoyable than others. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Stalking, Alcoholism, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Suicide, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

nostoat's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

I liked it, but I saw nearly all of the twists coming (downsides of having very good red flag detectors). The very last twist was solid though, did NOT see it coming. There's nothing stand-out about this book but it kept my interest and was a good read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

Moderate: Infertility and Sexual assault