Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

64 reviews

frances_frances's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

This book had a ton of flaws and at times was laughably over the top. The Madeline plot felt haphazardly thrown in and Jo felt totally unnecessary. And there's a rape scene that I found gratuitous (especially after the ending was revealed). This book was also fast-paced and the prose flowed easily. I do appreciate Alice Feeney's writing style. Once I surrendered to the ridiculous/over the top aspects of the book, I actually enjoyed the ride. Far from perfect, but certainly engaging and entertaining. (Although I still feel icky about the way sexual violence was used)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Infertility, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Car accident, and Death

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

Not, my favorite Alice Feeny book and the book was pretty slow-paced, but it was still an entertaining read. I read it in a day. The twist at the end was good though.

That rape scene was unnecessary.

She's definitely improved though. I think I'm more keen on her newer books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Murder

alekz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Insaaaaaaaane!!! Sharp objects kind of twists, kept me on my toes the whole time, and the narration was stellar. 
TW: abt ¾ the way through, there is an explicit depiction of r*pe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Murder, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, Violence, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Stalking

boba_n_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book started slow, but it really picked up towards the end. I loved the unreliable narrator that kept me guessing whole time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Kidnapping

pageafter_paige's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

3.0

This was a super quick read that kept me on my toes! I loved how the chapters jumped between diary entries from childhood, present time, and the week leading up to her coma. Even though the title is called Sometimes I Lie I was still fooled a few times hahaha but overall I felt the ending was predictable once a certain big secret was revealed. I do love Alice’s writing and I find it super engaging. I’m not a huge fan of how it all ended in the last chapter but overall I enjoyed the story! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

harper_simmons's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.75

I really enjoyed this book and the way it’s written. It has separated chapters from when the character is in the coma, before she got into the coma, and when they were younger. 

The whole book I was questioning who actually did it and I was shocked with what happened. The ending left me confused and wanting more.

I had moments where I had to go back and reread with more information that I was given so it made me take longer to read. 

Overall, amazing read. Would recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Mental illness

velvetreads_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Death of parent, Child death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Murder, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Infertility, Addiction, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse

emviolet's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

This is probably my favorite Alice Feeney book so far. I felt like it was a bit less predictable than the others I’ve read. There were some twists that J did figure out, but since there were so many I didn’t see all of them coming. I will say that because of that, it feels like there are some loose ends we don’t get a resolution for. But I think there’s a sequel coming out/already out? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Violence

clrouse's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Rape, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Miscarriage, Murder, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Death of parent, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Body horror, and Death

nat_foerster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, Death, and Bullying