Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Love & Virtue by Diana Reid

19 reviews

proceduralbob's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

aseel_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I was really not vibing with the start of this book, but it because it was super easy to read, I just kept going and before I knew it, I was very invested in the story. I liked the character arcs we saw and where the plot went

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

emsky's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

balfies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Do you like reading complex, intimate, witty, intelligent stories about consent and power and morality and the cultures of the colleges at The University of Sydney? Read this regardless of your answer.

It's also surreal to read about usyd, but about MY usyd, and about where in feminist space-time the campus was when I was there. Also wild to read a book set in the suburb I live in.

I really need to emphasise just how nuanced and precise and cutting and bright this book is, though. An absolute must read, 10/10 for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

sophh's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I absolutely loved reading this book. I pretty much read it all in a day during my summer holiday. I think the reason I loved it so much is because of how much of the protagonist's experience I could relate to.
The novel follows Michaela's transition into tertiary education in Sydney. She quickly realises that her college is filled with teenagers who want to spend all their time drinking, doing drugs and having sex. It is not unsurprising that this leads to quite a toxic culture within the residential college. 
Michaela navigates her way through friendships, romantic relationships, assault and loss. 
I really liked the focus on philosophy in this novel. It was easily integrated because Michaela was studying it. I find conversations about what it means to be a good or bad person fascinating, and I thought the way it related to Michaela's experience made it all the more impactful. 
My sister started reading this and she said she found it all somewhat pretentious and hard to read. While I can see where she is coming from I really liked reading it and I feel like it was a great exploration into a time of life where our sense of self and understanding of the world is very fragile and malleable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

iliah14's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Body shaming, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.5

“There are no facts, only interpretations.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
  
Many of those who will read Love & Virtue may find it is a feminist story, others may find it a story on ethics, morals, others may read L&V and look back on their 1st year of uni with fondness.
  
I found this a very easy book to read, parts of it were predictable and cliche. Unfortunately, I found L&V a story of shallow, insecure, selfish, immature entitled characters, who seemed to have never transitioned from high school into the more serious decision-making person you become in uni. 
  
While the storyline is going on, you do start to think what is ethical, right, wrong, and when is it time to stand up and say something, especially as a female. I do applaud the book as it tackles a confronting theme, and that it creates multiple discussion points for men, women, adults and young adults alike.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit

ninaszewczyk's review against another edition

dark funny reflective 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

Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

jouljet's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol