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A review by jbeoin
Secret Relationships by McQueen Studio
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content warning for abusive and manipulative behavior, violence, sexual assault, and grooming.
I was completely sucked into this story at the beginning, but it eventually started to wear on me. All the flashbacks dragged the story down to a crawl at multiple points, and the main character's refusal to stick up for himself for so long was incredibly frustrating. I finished it because I needed to see how it ended, but it irritated me to have to wade through endless episodes of abuse and lies and zero boundaries.
I also felt the story flattened the characters fairly quickly-- at the beginning, they all seem to have their own lives, but it soon became strictly about the drama of their own terrible relationships with zero outside interests or lives. That was sad because I was interested in what they laid out at the beginning and wanted to see that develop more.
There's also the fact that the main character was groomed by an adult when he was a teenager.
Ultimately, I think the story just kind of got in its own way at being something really great.
I was completely sucked into this story at the beginning, but it eventually started to wear on me. All the flashbacks dragged the story down to a crawl at multiple points, and the main character's refusal to stick up for himself for so long was incredibly frustrating. I finished it because I needed to see how it ended, but it irritated me to have to wade through endless episodes of abuse and lies and zero boundaries.
I also felt the story flattened the characters fairly quickly-- at the beginning, they all seem to have their own lives, but it soon became strictly about the drama of their own terrible relationships with zero outside interests or lives. That was sad because I was interested in what they laid out at the beginning and wanted to see that develop more.
There's also the fact that the main character was groomed by an adult when he was a teenager.
Ultimately, I think the story just kind of got in its own way at being something really great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail