Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

19 reviews

madsgrace_'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

louise_french_rider's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

Well THAT’S what I call a perfect book ! Absolutely loved it! I can’t believe the second book of this series is as good as the first one, I can’t wait to read the third. 
The plot, the characters, everything was good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content and Violence

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

noellegrace8's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a fantastic read and fantastic sequel. 

I will say, the end absolutely stressed me out and makes me worry that book 3 will not be as good because the last chapter of this one introduces some tropes that I don't love. My problems were that, I guess we're not really shown much what Apollo's true self is like up to this point, but having him do what he does to Evangeline is awful, and we're given no context as to how he has power to take memories? Aside from that and a few moments when all the ancient side stories were a bit hard to follow, this installment does not disappoint. There were multiple times that I audibly gasped or exclaimed while reading, both during plot twists and momentary Jacks x Evangeline moments. It is freshly surprising and worth every bit of your time. I'm not even sure how to give it the praise it deserves.

I give Rebecca Soler's performance 4.5/5⭐️. See book one's review for explanation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War

ashleybw21's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Blood

jessversteeg's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this book better than the first! The story becomes more compelling and the magic/world feels is reminiscent of the enchantments of Harry Potter 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship

zoeelora's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

hrubelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Emotional abuse

faeriefox's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

NAHHHH I NEED THE NEXT ONE RIGHT NOW
THIS WAS BETTER THE SECOND TIME
IM FREAKING IN LOVE WITH JACKS
SORRY EVA ILY BUT HES MINE

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

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

4.75

Evangeline and Jacks return as wary enemies in this sequel. Even with Evangeline being determined to solve her own issues, it seems that Jacks have other plans. As the twists and revelations unfold, one gets caught up in the twisted love story once again. Garber does a tremendous job of repeatedly warning both the reader and Evangeline not to trust people and placating those fears at the same time. Every twist manages to be a surprise and a knife to the gut. Can't wait for the third book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail