Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

8 reviews

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Racism, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Animal cruelty

A real life plane crash is discussed in one scene. There are a few uncomfortable jokes made about child characters.
Not sure how to tag it, but the fact that the fantasy oppression narrative was partially inspired by the Sixties Scoop is very much something to be aware of.

theoldestbennetsister's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Toxic relationship

leighmayon's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Child abuse

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Murder, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Cursing, and Excrement

sssssoup's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

This is hands down my favorite book I’ve ever read!! Not only is it 400 pages of free serotonin, it has important messages about prejudice and problems with the government that are especially relevant today. I think everyone should read it at some point in their lives because I believe everyone can learn something from it. It’s very well written and it makes my heart so happy (:

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Sexism, Grief, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

annapox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

I give the first half of this book 4 stars and the second half 5 stars. The first half is delightful, but it isn't until the second half that it becomes un-put-down-able. Great characters, great story, witty writing. The book could easily have existed without a romantic subplot, but it was a very sweet romantic subplot nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Xenophobia

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Violence

vkodhai's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Confinement

Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia

Minor: Body shaming, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

mirichasha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-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

5.0

New favorite book???? New favorite book!!! Like maybe this is actually my new reread and Red White & Royal Blue can take at least a short break (we'll see though, I have already read it three times this year). This book was just so joyful, so sweet, so full of hope and so relatable in its journey from sadness to a life of color. I want that for myself. This book gives me something to dream about.

See content warnings for discussion of fatphobia in this book, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

Minor: Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Bullying, and Xenophobia

bigotry against magical beings, internalized shame for same, abusive group homes/orphanages. I will say that although I absolutely adored this book essentially from page one... I was and still am frustrated about the fat rep. The blurb on the top of one of the copies (the one showing on storygraph) quotes Seanan McGuire saying, "This book is very close to perfect" and IMO the thing keeping it from perfection is the amount of body shaming happening with Linus. Most of it comes from himself, but in my view it doesn't get checked enough outside of the (appreciated) pushback from Talia and the appreciation from Arthur. Like. The growth around this came too little too late for me, although it did happen. I still wholeheartedly recommend this book, I'd just say be wary around this and don't let yourself internalize it. Again, a disappointing part of an otherwise perfect book.

danneq's review

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book made my heart melt. And then it carefully put my heart back together. What a delightful book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship