Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Memorial by Bryan Washington

37 reviews

brazenbookbabe's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book gave a great window into so many different relationships of the characters with extremely flawed narrators. It was a slow read but satisfying. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness

Minor: Homophobia, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism

greatu's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Cancer, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

remie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

tinana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

sloanefg's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Abandonment and Toxic relationship

Minor: Physical abuse

gabbygarcia's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racial slurs, and Racism

rinarina's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship

lena_and_her_books's review against another edition

emotional reflective

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Violence and Vomit

debookgeek's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual content and Racism

Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia

readswithnatalieb's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.0

 

I really liked a lot about this book, but there were also parts that were pretty meh for me. 

 

The story itself? I loved it. I took away so much about how difficult relationships are at any given point in life. Some relationships work, others don’t, but navigating through life while balancing other friendships and situations can make relationships so unique. I found the story to be so raw in that regard. 

 

The diverse representation, an LGBTQIA+ romance, with HIV+ mention created a lot of topics that provoked thoughts. And the story wasn’t tragic or coming out wasn’t a part of it, it was just life (which more stories need to be this way). It was very much a slice of life type of read, which I also enjoyed. 

 

Because it was a slice, I didn’t find there to be much plot. Which some readers love that style! But for me, it was just okay. Because of the lack of plot, the story seemed to slow down in sections when other parts were quick. While reading, the back and forth communication between characters seemed flat. While I read in my head, I give the characters voices and infliction, but I couldn’t with this story. 

 

Warning! There are no quotation marks. 

 

Overall, I can see why the book was popular so and I would suggest checking it out. I will absolutely pick up other work by Washington! 

 

Content Warnings: cancer, infidelity, homophobia, death, alcoholism, abuse 

 

Another bonus? TV adaptation! I could see it being successful onscreen so I will definitely watch. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship