Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester

6 reviews

c0rpsekat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

MORE QUEER FOCUSED HORROR PLEASE !! this book is so dark , gorgeous , and cherishable !!! the most beautifully written experience i've had the pleasure to read . i truly felt anxious and scared as i lived DEEP in this universe Kristi DeMeester created , but i also felt such sadness , love , and sympathy for the characters and their stories . Lila and Caroline are not only my favorite characters i've read , but ones that will stick with me in every day of my life . as a queer , afab trans person who came out at around Lila's age raised by a single mother who recently passed away ... wow . this book spoke to me in ways i never knew a horror novel could . an absolutely chilling , sorrowful , and astounding ride .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Grief, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Death, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Bullying, Sexism, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Drug use, and Drug abuse

aparker89's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Body horror, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Torture, Child death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, Dementia, and Pregnancy

minimicropup'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? It's complicated

5.0

Mysterious, feral, abstract 

 

🇺🇸 Set mostly in Atlanta, Georgia and New Orleans, Lousiana in 2004 and 2019. 

POV: We follow a teen navigating their crush on a best friend in 2019. We also get a peek into the past via the experience of the teen's parents in 2004 and present day 2019. 

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🐺Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags🐕 

😃 Atmospheric and in their heads writing style that didn't feel bogged down. 

 

🤔 The synopsis sounded a bit out of my league (I don’t like in your face symbolism), but it was excellent. The symbolism started off subtle and gradually got louder but remained plausible as the story progressed and characters evolved. I didn't always understand what it was trying to say or show, but it didn't take away from the story for me. Probably a great book club read. 

👍 I think the story covers how mental illness, especially in women, is treated in modern times in a relatable way. Very show not tell - like how loved ones really do want you to get better, but have their own complications to add (don't just pop pills you just need to relax. Or just pop pills and be cured).  

🥹 I found the experiences of the characters relatable for anyone who is sensitive or intuitive and has been accused of being too emotional or too sensitive. Like feeling lost or alien in your own body and mind and feeling feral sometimes. 

🤷‍♀️ This is a story I think many could still identify with and enjoy. It doesn't rely on misandry or man = bad tropes. In some cases men were stifled in their coping skills because of patriarchal systems and beliefs growing up that denied them a chance to be themselves and gain confidence. In other cases, men are beasts and predators, but the distinction is made, along with how that affects girls and young women. 
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Mood Reading Match Up: 

• Coming-of-age friendship drama and finding your true self 
• Mental illness, monster, memories, or magic?
• Ominous undercurrent of serial killer crimes through the decades 
• Archetypes, commentary, and themes around animal nature, “fuck politeness”, patriarchy, and the beasts that walk among us 
• "Are you the one?", "Will they make it?" romantic suspense and drama 

 

Content Heads-Up: Mental illness (hallucination). Misogyny (systemic, medicine and psychiatry). Parental rejection. Medical (hospice, cancer). Death of a parent. Loss of a teen. Body horror (murder, dismembering, disfiguring). Natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina recollection and aftermath). Lesbian rep (homophobic characters and supportive ones). 

 

Format: Hardcover

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death of parent

Moderate: Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Body horror, Misogyny, and Cancer

iseefirede's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

I enjoyed this book. It kept me interested and I did not want to put it down. I was a bit dissatisfied with the ending...it felt almost rushed to me in comparison with the rest of the book. I definitely related to Caroline and her struggle with mental illness and dissociation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Bullying, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia

kabrown28's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Murder, Lesbophobia, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

lilbookbee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Murder, and Gore

Minor: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment