Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Teddy by Jason Rekulak

54 reviews

zosiablue's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I just...😬. I don't know! This was a fun thriller with the added bonus of beautiful drawings interspersed. But the twists were so improbable, the characters so cringily stereotyped, and it didn't land. If the author had leaned into the genre instead of trying to elevate it, I think he would've been more successful. Instead, it's kind of a ghost story, psycho-thriller, addict's redemption tale, and class commentary mushed into an admittedly interesting framework. But it just all felt...off.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol

kelsoups's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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

2.75

Quick and easy read, but predictable. Ending felt unsatisfying. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Racism, Transphobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

molliecule's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Wow. Hidden Pictures is just creepy enough, well-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The twist shocked me and I didn't see it coming!

I am so happy that the ending was good and only Caroline and Ted die. I was so sad when it was almost Mallory, but the ending is just what you are hoping for. So glad about the whole thing!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

leebeeloves's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

elizpalmtree's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Grief

kenziburke's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Murder

livvmarks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

emilycecilia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

soobooksalot's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Don't you love when you start a book and just know it will be five stars? Then keep reading and realize it might be a new favourite of the genre?
 Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is giving me a book hangover.
 It has all the elements I love in a spooky read - unreliable narrator, mysterious backstories, atmosphere, local legends, and a fantastic hint of supernatural. 
 Round this out with essential parts of the story being told through art - both creepy and heartbreaking - and this book was an absolute winner. 
 Many elements reminded me of some of my favourite horror movies, the ones with well-thought out stories and unsettling twists that make you gasp.
 100% recommended!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, and Murder