Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

4 reviews

sage_alexandra's review

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

3.5

It had me in the first half, but the, motive, didn't work for me.

Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but I wasn't expecting cult sacrifice. The movie featuring a supernatural killer was a rip off that it wouldn't be your regular neighborhood serial killer. When talk of the Owl Man got brought up, I was expecting some Mothman shit (but, evil, Mothman is a good little dude). I wasn't pleased by the turn of events but oh well. But when it wasn't that, and was just a cult, I was disappointed.

All in all, I appreciated the representation in the book. I read "Cinderella is Dead" a couple of years ago and enjoyed both books. I wish it had gone more into the horror simulation, but I understand that wasn't the focus

even though it would've been nice to balance out the future insanity.

I'm glad I clocked Kyle from the beginning. The bodies being discovered under the couch (when they were supposed to have been ambulanced away), and the "I called the police" from Mr. Dumont were both red flags that I wish Charity had seen immediately.

Also, what the fuck was up with the sheriff?? He was just never brought up again? He had to have been in on it, right? I was expecting a cloaked figure reveal.

And the epilogue had me more freaked out than anything else. Girl, you just raised your dead girlfriend from the lake, and you AREN'T OPENING YOUR EYES?!?! As your hear the most unnerving sounds of water dripping from a person, and footsteps??? Like, I know you were expecting it, but aren't you a little concerned that she's going to be a rotting corpse?? I'm imagining some "Haunting of Bly Manor" lady of the lake grabbing your throat shit. My skin was CRAWLING

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

More of a cult folk horror than a slasher, and with a messy narrative structure, a cast of likeable teens with strong friendships, twists that I genuinely did not see coming, and visceral horror and gore made up for the book’s shortcomings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Police brutality

There is also police negligence, ritualistic sacrifice, weaponry, horror movie spoilers and bodies hidden in lakes.

wrensreadingroom's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

growintogardens's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

There was a few things that surprised me, and it was okay overall, but there could have been more character developmen imo. It feels like an updated old school summer horror movie, so I think it worked well on that front and could be a good show or movie. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content