Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

16 reviews

amandab0514's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Alcohol

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

relin's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Very silly premise that is followed through in an enjoyable way! Characters all have delightfully human problems and concerns they are navigating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Drug use, and Alcohol

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Medical content, and Alcoholism

While in the premise, parent trapping their parents is cute, it does also make them step sisters in a romantic relationship with each other.

naiu_cs's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

luunacy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

This was a cute romance story. Just fluffy enough, though I could have used a little more steam. I look forward to reading the sequel this fall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

theyellowhobbit's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Vomit

Minor: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

zydecovivo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

TikTok recommended me this book. As a whole, the story is enjoyable. It’s sweet. Neither Gwen nor Beth considers love with a woman as an option towards the beginning of the book, which I think is a common experience for many LGBTQ people. It isn’t until Gwen witnesses a flourishing WLW relationship that she realizes her feelings. That being said, I found their pairing less engaging than their parents. I almost want a prequel of their previous relationship, even if that would be considered a more conventional historical romance. I also found myself getting deja vu. Quite a few lines, especially when describing Gwen and Beth’s feelings and eventual love, I have definitely read in other LGBTQ historical romances, despite only having read a few. This is not necessarily bad, but I think anyone who regularly reads this genre should prepare themselves for a lack of surprises. That being said, I was excited by the setup for the second book in this series and plan to read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent

ghostmomxoxo's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Misogyny

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, and Misogyny

jinx3djules's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

3.5

it was cute. i could get past the whole step-siblings thing at first, since getting their parents together was the only way they could be together

however, when their parents had a child together at the end, i was left with a kind of gross feeling. like, imagine sharing a half-sibling with your lover.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence

quiltsandtealibrary's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban has stolen my heart away!

This book has swiftly secured itself as a favorite for 2024- the audiobook features dual narration for both Beth and Gwen and both ladies are the perfect voices for both girls!

This sapphic regency romance X parent trap mix had the most perfect scenes, most believable and unique moments of love between multiple characters , and thee most satisfying HEA that I have read in months.

This is such a well written, lovely, gorgeous debut and I’m looking forward to the second book in the Mischief & Matchmaking series!

Spoiler?
Conversational awareness piece here:
The claim that this book is glorifying or show casing incest is a mega leap and extremely queerphobic. The girls NEVER knew each other growing up, do not call each other sister romantically, and this is a book of its time: it’s regency. They cannot marry one another like they desire too and this is the next best thing.

The epilogue is another example of them trying to work with the world they are in to potentially appease society/not draw attention to their queerness, live happily ever after together, and maybe help another queer couple live happily ever after all at the same time.

Please stop letting comphet normality ruin this book for you and stop looking at it thru a straight view point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse