Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews

11 reviews

katievallin's review

emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Classism, War, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Pregnancy

galaxies's review

2.0

I usually enjoy Mimi Matthews’ novels but after the first half of Matrimonial Advertisement I started losing interest. It got really dark fast, making it a depressing slog for me. 

And while others have pronounced this to be slow burn I disagree. They are both pretty aware of their feelings but this book is heavy on miscommunication and a lack of communication. It’s a trope I absolutely dislike and therefore made the second half a chore to get through.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Torture

schweibertsm's review

dark emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

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

3.0

A lovely historical romance full of longing and wanting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Death and Death of parent

jtlars7's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

Enjoyable story with beauty-and-the-beast and marriage-of-convenience themes. Nothing steamier than kisses. Some similarities to another book I’ve read by this author - former soldier buys derelict, remote estate and decides to find a wife, who turns out to need rescuing and has to deal with family who doesn’t want to let her have her money. Despite the repetition in basic themes, I enjoyed both stories.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

mikaylaaubellona's review

dark emotional tense medium-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

this is one of my favorite books in the world. i've read it 6 or so times and it always hits all the right notes for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse

Minor: Forced institutionalization

crystalisreading's review

emotional hopeful

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Ableism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Torture, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Rape, Confinement, and Stalking

goodjollymissmolly's review

emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Torture, War, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

lilacs_book_bower's review

medium-paced

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

3.5

This book held my attention and was enjoyable, but I think it will probably be fairly forgettable.  I am sort of struggling about the rating, as there aren't major flaws, but it definitely isn't a 5 star book.  I think my main criticism is that the characters felt a bit shallow, I liked them well enough, but wasn't super drawn to them.  They had some major trauma to get over and deal with and it felt a bit like, they said, ok, I need to get over this, cool, I am over it.  It didn't feel like they were putting in the time with their issues, themselves, or to overcoming the hang ups in their relationship.  The British colonization of India is talked about (the hero was a soldier and was in India during an uprising/rebellion).  The author does have the hero say that he liked a lot of the Indian people, so there is that at least, but if you are looking for a nuanced discussion of WHY the Indian people might have been upset about the colonization, that is not found here.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Colonisation, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism

mairead_parade's review

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a quick read but still had strong emotional stakes and a satisfying resolution. Also got me invested in the next installment.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Torture

welkinvault's review

emotional informative lighthearted tense slow-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

4.75

Compelling romance in a Victorian.  Well written.  First of a splendid series of novels 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness