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veuxmourir 's review for:
The Summer Garden
by Paullina Simons
My advice? Treat the Bronze Horseman series as a duology; don't read this book.
Seriously, I wouldn't recommend reading [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]. I just want to be clear: I've never been the type of person that talks shit on books. I'm a firm believer that all books deserve a chance and I've never in the hundreds of reviews I've posted on this website said that people shouldn't read a book just because I didn't like it.
But god... this book. I loved [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171] so much. I knew it was somewhat problematic and ridiculously overdramatic, but I still sincerely loved it. I loved strong but naïve Tatiana, and caring but overly protective Alexander. [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474] ruined the image I had of them. Alexander was never perfect; he was a little borderline obsessive, protective, and bossy - but it was the siege of Leningrad, for fucks sake. For all his downfalls, he was never physically or emotionally abusive in [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171]. But he was in [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474].
The shit I couldn't stand, in list format:
(fyi: I tagged the details as spoilers, but if you're on the app they may not be hidden)
- The biggest one: spousal rape.
- Alexander's gross, misogynistic hatred of Tatiana having a job. Seriously, the only reason they had marital problems was because Tatiana wanted to continue working as a nurse. It was ridiculous.
- Physical abuse. ...he hits her multiple times.
- Emotional abuse. This one was most prevalent in the beginning. Alexander was an asshole, and though that partly has to be forgiven because he was recovering from torture and hell, it was still terrible and he treated Tatiana like shit.
- Cheating.
-
All in all, if you liked [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171], which would be the only reason you'd read this book at all, don't read [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]. I wish I never had. In fact, I'm just going to pretend that this book never happened and I'd advise you to do the same. Don't let this book ruin Alexander and Tatiana for you.
Trigger Warnings for [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]: rape, death, violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, cheating
Seriously, I wouldn't recommend reading [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]. I just want to be clear: I've never been the type of person that talks shit on books. I'm a firm believer that all books deserve a chance and I've never in the hundreds of reviews I've posted on this website said that people shouldn't read a book just because I didn't like it.
But god... this book. I loved [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171] so much. I knew it was somewhat problematic and ridiculously overdramatic, but I still sincerely loved it. I loved strong but naïve Tatiana, and caring but overly protective Alexander. [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474] ruined the image I had of them. Alexander was never perfect; he was a little borderline obsessive, protective, and bossy - but it was the siege of Leningrad, for fucks sake. For all his downfalls, he was never physically or emotionally abusive in [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171]. But he was in [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474].
The shit I couldn't stand, in list format:
(fyi: I tagged the details as spoilers, but if you're on the app they may not be hidden)
- The biggest one: spousal rape.
Spoiler
I'm referring to the scene the morning after Tatiana and Alexander had a fight about the Bachelor party. After their fight, Tatiana leaves and says she's going to the Bachelorette party. She comes back the night morning and tells him she actually spent the night at the hospital (because she actually gives a fuck about their relationship). She tells Alexander she doesn't want him to touch her, he does. And then he has sex with her, even though she's obviously unwilling.- Alexander's gross, misogynistic hatred of Tatiana having a job. Seriously, the only reason they had marital problems was because Tatiana wanted to continue working as a nurse. It was ridiculous.
- Physical abuse.
Spoiler
For this one I'm most specifically talking about the instance where Tatiana and Alexander are fighting about him cheating on her. She wants to leave him, and- Emotional abuse. This one was most prevalent in the beginning. Alexander was an asshole, and though that partly has to be forgiven because he was recovering from torture and hell, it was still terrible and he treated Tatiana like shit.
- Cheating.
Spoiler
This and the rape is what really fucking got to me. I don't care that there wasn't penetration, Alexander fucking cheated on Tatiana and was absolute scum. And his excuse? He was upset because Tatiana's job meant she didn't spend Friday nights in his bed. Boo fucking hoo.-
Spoiler
The shit with Anthony and Vikki!!! WHY. It was so gross and dumb and why????All in all, if you liked [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman, #1)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171], which would be the only reason you'd read this book at all, don't read [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]. I wish I never had. In fact, I'm just going to pretend that this book never happened and I'd advise you to do the same. Don't let this book ruin Alexander and Tatiana for you.
Trigger Warnings for [b:The Summer Garden|608216|The Summer Garden (The Bronze Horseman, #3)|Paullina Simons|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411993309s/608216.jpg|2098474]: rape, death, violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, cheating