Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

42 reviews

nams's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

The second book in the Twilight Saga has always been my least favorite even when I was teenager devouring the books. This opinion hasn't changed re-reading the book as an adult. The following review entails mild spoilers. No matter how many things I dislike about the book, I have to admit that the story still captivates me (assisted with some childhood nostalgia). However, re-reading it as an adult, you cannot close your eye to the fact that Bella is basically the worst role model for teenage girls (and boys) imagineable. She is not only unhealthly attached to Edward but also completely dependend on him and his opinion of her. She attaches all her self-worth, happiness and will to live to Edward's love for her. Although it might be understandable that Bella is sad and to some degree depressed when Edward leaves, it is not shown in a healthy way. As it was already the case in the first book, romantic love is portrayed in a toxic way. In her eagerness to convincingly showcase Edward and Bella's love and devotion for each other, the author completely goes overboard. Under the disguise of feeling profoundly, Bella makes terrible decisions and risks her life and health. It is harmful to trivialize her actions to hear Edward's voice by describing them as "reckless" and "stupid" when in reality they are borderline suicidal (or plain suicidal considering her cliff jumping). With Edward out of the picture for most of the books, one thing becomes apparent: Bella does not know how to build normal relationships. The void she feels without Edward, she fills with her "friendship" with Jacob (I use quotation marks as their relationship is also not a great example for a good friendship). I am still unclear why she feels so deeply about him but Bella definitely uses Jacob to feel better about herself. Again, she attaches herself to a guy and makes them responsible for her well-being. At the beginning, Jacob had potential to be a truly lovely character, however, over time he is so overcome with bitterness that he loses all his charm. My previous wish remains: Can someone please re-write the Twilight Saga but in healthy? Because the general plot is interesting and has so much potential but lacks depth.

symaira's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.25

The movie is my favorite out of all of them, but the book felt so slow and a tad boring. It dragged for me, and maybe that was the point to help aid the plot line of Bella being very depressed. The relationship between Bella and Jacob is explored a lot more in this book, and I feel bad for Jake. But at the same time, why does he not understand boundaries and people's decisions? Anywho this took me longer to read for some reason compared to the first book, but I still liked it. Just a little slow again.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

macliffe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Gore

tongatimee's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

It is the worst twilight book. Feels long, starts slow pae quickens at the end. Toxic relationships to the nth degree but we knew that already. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Just kinda bad. But not bad good like the first book was.

ptitirodactyle's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood, Racism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War

brynn_books's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.0

This is probably my least favorite book from the twilight saga. I’m also not the biggest fan of Bella. It was hard reading the scenes she had with Jacob knowing that she’s leading him on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Toxic relationship

tiana_king's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

l_e_lavalle's review against another edition

funny tense medium-paced

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

2.25

This isn't a love triangle. Both Edward and Jacob are horrible love interests and not a healthy relationship if you pull off the mask of ~ooh supernatural~. Everyone sucks and the book does too, do not read if you are looking for a genuinely good book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Body horror, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Emotional abuse

christinewonder's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail