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oysterkatcher 's review for:

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
4.0

An excellent and realistic depiction of how someone falls into a toxic and abusive relationship before they realize it--and that despite how dangerous it is to stay, it's never as easy as just leaving. Demetrios packs a powerful punch that, hopefully, gives insight to those who don't understand how difficult it can be to get away from an abuser (ESPECIALLY as a teenager or young adult) and warns readers that may find themselves in a similar situation. I loved that Grace's reactions and thoughts were true-to-life, but she used them to reflect and express how wrong she was. 
I think that the biggest message to be gleaned from this novel is to trust your instincts, and that you are not responsible for abuser. One of the most difficult topics covered in this novel is
your partner threatening self-harm or suicide if you leave
and I thought the way Grace found her courage and stood up for herself despite it was really inspiring.