Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

60 reviews

readsbyhope's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

twisty's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.0

There’s this trend I’m noticing in these commercial “successes” where there’s a lot of build up and then it abruptly ends, like some editor said, well, it’s took long, let’s just end it. 

To have Lucy go through so much abuse then, op, I saw a psychiatrist for a few weeks years ago and now I’m just over the narcissist because I realize I’m worth it. Oh, and he killed this girl. La la, on with my life!

Blah. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Gaslighting

stephrand's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

What a roller coaster this book is. A bit different from the show but very hard to put down in the same way. Lucy and Stephen’s toxic romance is a wild ride full of lust and emotion. Also enjoyed all of the family dynamics/drama each of them also dealt with. Definitely recommend for a quick and somewhat spicy read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death and Eating disorder

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, and Vomit

syreetam's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

emilyyyhillsss's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

"Stephen is just another guy who needs to shave and lose the beer belly, another corporate lawyer who gets his kicks on payday. Maybe he was magic to me once, but he isn't anymore"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

patriciarodriguez's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

extremely repetitive but it showed the ugly nature of toxic relationships. it was all worth it for that epilogue. just wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death and Car accident

catrinageorgia's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

mookayla's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

We've all probably dated someone like Stephen in some point in our lives. He's a narcissistic, cheating, manipulative, (in many ways abusive), sociopathic, liar. So if you're anything like me, you'll probably find yourself yelling at Lucy all throughout this book- as many of our close friends and family yelled at us in frustration as well. "WHY are you with him? WHAT do you see in him?? Can't you see what he's doing to you???"

Tell Me Lies is a messy, twisted story that shows the reality of toxic relationships, overcoming trauma, and finally getting over THAT guy. 

My biggest complaint (other than the stress this book caused me) would be that there is ultimately no real resolve, or I guess consequences, to some of Stephen's more horrifying actions. I suppose that is the way the world works at times though.

I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys Colleen Hoover's style of books.

With that being said, this book is not all just empty drama. It also deals heavily with mental health while getting into these real-life issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Stalking

Very different from the show, and I hate the changes the show has made to both Wrigley & Evan's characters. Interested to see how it plays out though! ♡

grboph's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed reading this. Definitely not anything that's going to be a classic going forward, but it was very entertaining. I also feel like the characters were very well developed and it's a little scary how good the author is at writing from the perspective of a literal sociopath. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes romance novels or is looking for a good beach read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

angietaurus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.0

Read this if you want to learn what a toxic relationship with a narcissist looks like while having an eating disorder and doing cocaine in college.
Plot holes left open.
No loveable characters….not even Lucy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship