Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

70 reviews

bbreaddboyy_'s review against another edition

(Read on my phone, page count might differ to the physical copy)

I picked this up simply because I saw it on my twitter timeline and sad to say, it did not get me out of my reading slump. I understand vaguely on where the author is trying to go with this but honestly, simultaneously I do not. What I am further confused by is how did Backman turn this into a trilogy - the plot feels like it is going nowhere.

Additionally, nobody warned me of the rape and raging misogyny this book would contain.

Perfect book if you are just a kaypoh kia who wants the daily gossip I guess? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

m0dp0dge's review against another edition

hopeful reflective

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

mackenzieabraham's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent

alexashabit's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

kayleejanes's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

jrae1334's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Rape, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Homophobia

emilywemily6's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This book was emotionally heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Many tears were shed, both joyful and devastated. It’s mostly a story about hockey and how the members of a small rural community put hockey above all else, even morals (sometimes). It was hard to understand who was who are the beginning of this book because the cast of characters is huge and the backstories blend together, but the characters became more distinct over time. This writing is very different than Backman’s more lighthearted, fun writing. Lots of really good one-liners about moral implications of people’s thoughts and actions. This book felt very human, but was a bit difficult to read sometimes. Read when you are in a good place personally! Also winter vibes because of hock eye and the setting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Violence, Medical content, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence

haaaleybeee's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book is filled with juicy small town drama, but big TW for a sexual assault being a huge part of the rising and falling action. 
I am hypercritical of fiction that is going to make SA a major or minor plot point, this book doesn’t receive any less criticism. 

While I thought the flaws of Beartown and its inhabitants were enthralling and kept me hooked, I couldn’t help but feel like the SA lack of resolve seemed weak. However maybe that’s the point? Overall was a decent book but a little hard to push through at times. If you like insight into many characters lives, a morally gray environment, and, lest we forget, hockey; this book may be for you. Definitely an out of my comfort zone read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism