Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

30 reviews

hardella's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This was super entertaining. I thought the two (maybe three including the kid) main characters were likable and I was rooting for them. I did figure out every plot twist within the first three chapters or so but it still kept my interest!
I appreciated that while there was violence and hints of SA it was not explicit. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Murder

gknott's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Rape, and Vomit

ladyinverse's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.5

wowee wow wow wow. I expected some of the twists in this but the biggest one of the book I did not expect at all. a very well done suspense thriller with believable characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Abortion, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Gun violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Child abuse

rkocher1's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

nporter5's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I’m in awe of this book. ACAB, always, but 5/5 read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Rape

bek67's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Audiobook, I finished it in 24 hours. The narrator was great. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded. I could not give it 5 stars because- SPOILER ALERT HERE.....

I did struggle with the inability of the characters to dispatch the twisted sick ba$tard that caused all the pain when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Of course, I haven't been in that situation but you've got a shotgun in your hand and KNOWING he is going to kill you or take you back to lock you up and you don't shoot him? Instead you discharge the shotgun multiple times by shooting at the wall and ceiling, NOT HIM! Then you are out of bullets??!?!?! IDK, maybe she was worried about hitting Wylie too but that was not discussed. Becky risked everything to save her daughter and herself and then did not take the chance when given. Inconceivable, especially when you've got a young child to protect.

  Hence, 4 stars instead of 5 but I would highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual violence

Audiobook, I finished it in 24 hours. The narrator was great. Really enjoyed how the story unfolded. I could not give it 5 stars because- SPOILER ALERT HERE..... (spoiler) I did struggle with the inability of the characters to dispatch the twisted sick ba$tard that caused all the pain when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Of course, I haven't been in that situation but you've got a shotgun in your hand and KNOWING he is going to kill you or take you back to lock you up and you don't shoot him? Instead you discharge the shotgun multiple times by shooting at the wall and ceiling, NOT HIM! Then you are out of bullets??!?!?! IDK, maybe she was worried about hitting Wylie too but that was not discussed. Becky risked everything to save her daughter and herself and then did not take the chance when given. Inconceivable, especially when you've got a young child to protect. Hence, 4 stars instead of 5 but I would highly recommend this book.

kt2e56's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Fairly compelling! Definitely a page turner! I think this fell victim though to the problem I have with most thrillers lately: the author is so wrapped up in preserving their big reveal at the end that a lot of the description about characters feels pretty bland or nonexistent outside of the flashbacks to the past. It’s extra infuriating here because some of these reveals are very easy to guess and the reader picking up on them ahead of time wouldn’t really hinder the book all that much. The characters all feel very lifeless and sort of blend together.

The ending also felt a bit rushed but the plot itself does make up for that. It’s certainly entertaining.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Car accident, Confinement, Murder, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, Alcoholism, Excrement, Medical trauma, Drug use, Drug abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Stalking

opplecopter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Vomit, Confinement, Pedophilia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Sexual assault

librasgroove's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Miscarriage

jkarki's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Car accident, Blood, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Death, Confinement, Child death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Alcohol, Torture, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal cruelty, Self harm, and Vomit