Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Ward D by Freida McFadden

5 reviews

daydaybookbay's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.5

I rated this book a 9 out of 10. I loved this book. It'sfast-pacedd and keeps you on edge waiting for the next shoe to drop. Although I figured out the twist in the first half, the ride there was so much fun. Will definitely read it again!

Reasons I couldn't give a 10 out of 10 rating is mostly how I predicted the ending. There's only so many twists you can create in a locked psychiatric unit. Also, I feel the mental illnesses are very generalized. There's a lot of diversity in reality, but the depictions here were very Hollywood-esque.

This is my first book by Freida McFadden, but it definitely won't be my last. I have heard many good things about her other novels, so I am super excited to read them in the future as well.

I love how easy it is to throw off the reader. All the characters are in a psych ward, and the main character questions her own sanity from the get-go. Every single person's credibility is demolished since Chapter 1. With no reliable character, there is a wide open playing field for the story to travel. Because of this, the storyline has no clear path, and it's easier to mislead the reader. I love it!

Jade took me by surprise multiple times. Her character was all over the place (obviously).

I do like that there was no redemption arc for her, though. Sometimes, having a bad guy just stay a bad guy is so freaking satisfying.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Dementia, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Violence

miilk's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Gaslighting, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Stalking, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Classism

aparker89's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Need a fast paced book that I a good distraction from everyday life? This is certainly a good one for that. This author is good at writing fast paced, easy to read books that capture your attention. It's certainly not perfect and some of the "twists" are pretty predictable for any seasoned mystery reader. I appreciate that this book (although similar to another by this same author in pattern and story) takes place over the course of a single night. It makes it that much more compelling to finish. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, and Abandonment

tianabooks's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

3.0

This was okay but, having read a couple Freida McFadden books now, certainly not my favourite one.

I was feeling conflicted as I was trying to piece my thoughts together as I did finish this veeery fast. However, by the end I was in a state of 'that was it?' but at the same time I don't know what I was expecting to be honest. I've been in a huge thriller mood all summer and I've always been thoroughly entertained while reading this author's books. The pace was good and I finished it quickly, but it felt just okay.

I still stand by my opinion that The Housemaid is still her best book - at least for me.  Not sure if it's being used to some wild and wacky twists by this author and feeling underwhelmed by this one. The mental health rep wasn't the best either - some of the characters felt more like caricatures than characters at times -  so this left me feeling a bit lukewarm about this overall reading experience. 

Not horrible but not a personal favourite! Might still check some of the other books, they're very bingeable in general. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Mental illness, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

jomjom's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Murder, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Blood, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Medical trauma, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gore

Minor: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Classism, and Alcohol