Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Shallow River by H.D. Carlton

35 reviews

tempeste_rose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

This is a tough read but I found parts of it endearing. Definitely not for everyone, and check triggers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Domestic abuse

tarynsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, Classism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexism, Stalking, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Torture

scuttleisthebest's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This was my first book by this author, and I loved it. I couldn't put it down, I was so invested.

I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN SHE KILLED THEM, GOT HER REVEGE AND I LOVED MAKO EVEN MORE FOR HELPING HER GET AWAY WITH IT.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death, Rape, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

minimikk4's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Classism, Pregnancy, Medical content, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Gore, Child abuse, Body shaming, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Addiction, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Drug use, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Trafficking, Self harm, and Infidelity

raereadssmut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

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

5.0

“Was it deranged and out of pocket? Maybe…. But was it real as fuck? ABSOLUTELY” 

Literally HD Carlton has a way with writing about TOUGH TO STOMACH subjects. The things she writes about are so real and I think that’s why a lot of people can’t stomach it. This shit was absolutely hard to read but real as fuck nonetheless. 

At times I couldn’t get passed how submissive River was being with Ryan. You were dealt the shit stick since birth but are blind to your boyfriend doing the same thing to you??? But I had to remind myself….. if you put a frog in boiling water it’ll immediately jump out, if you put it in room temp water and slowly let the water boil it’ll end up dying in the boiling water. Same goes for DV. 

READ YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!! No one else is responsible for what YOU get triggered by! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Toxic relationship

redallover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

It Ends With Us wishes it was this book. 
Genuinely this book portrayed domestic violence in such a real8stic way it made me want to chuck my kindle against a wall. Read this book with caution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

annikenr's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Death, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Addiction, and Child abuse

Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Body shaming, Murder, and Pregnancy

aoros's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction

ashleynicole_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence

Trigger warnings

melsbookspace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I went into this book blind, it was an incredibly dark and haunting tale surrounding one woman's lifelong battle with SA and DV. 

I enjoyed this book but I highly recommend looking up and checking out trigger warnings before diving in because there are a lot and only a vague mention of DV on the first page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Torture, Child abuse, Drug use, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship