Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

24 reviews

fadeddpages's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

araowl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Excrement, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Outing, and Gaslighting

laurafrances's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

penandpaper's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book cleverly tricks you into thinking it’s going one direction and then subverts expectations in a way that it truly shocking yet feels so obvious in retrospect. It’s also a critique in a hyper specific community (white liberal creatives) in a way that is well done but might be a bit too niche.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Racism

yuyuv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

caitgiam's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Physical abuse and Blood

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, and Vomit

lottiebrooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

4.0

Like an LGBT+ Get Out with only women in it. 

I enjoyed this book a lot, but personally don’t care for any element of a ghost within a story unless it’s fully debunked.

I think this is an incredible debut novel, and it’s clear the author used her experience as a therapist to create well-rounded characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

kelleywithanextrae's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

trippalli's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Most demented mentorship. A fast compelling read, despite being predictable an exciting death and disturbingdisturbing story.. Reflective on topics like inspiration, friendship, live and passion,  ruthlessness,  competitiveness, mentoring and inspiration.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I originally heard about this because it is the Literally Dead Book Club pick for April. 
“The Writing Retreat” follows a young woman named Alex. Alex is struggling in her personal and professional life. She is an aspiring author, but she has not been able to find the right idea to write about. All of her struggles are compounded by her recent falling out with her longtime best friend, Wren. Things seem to finally be looking up for Alex, when she is invited to attend an exclusive writing retreat at the mysterious home of best selling author Roza. Alex and a handful of other talented young women come together at Roza’s estate for a month-long writing retreat. Unfortunately, this amazing opportunity might be too good to be true when other members of the retreat begin to vanish, and there seems to be something far more sinister at play.
I was initially really excited to pick up this book, because I love to read stories about authors, who are struggling with their craft. Alex‘s character is so relatable. She is a struggling 30 something who is just trying to find her place in the world. She has a fire within her and she wants to write a story because she loves to read the inspiring works of others , but she cannot seem to stoke the fire high enough to be able to come up with her own idea. I really enjoyed seeing her character struggle with her relationship with Wren. After college it is really difficult to maintain friendships for various reasons. Alex‘s story with Wren really highlights how some people are your friend for certain chapters in your life, and that is okay. 
Unfortunately, this book fell kind of short for me. It ultimately did not keep my interest, and I had to force myself to finish the story. The ultimate mystery behind what is happening during this writing retreat started out interesting, but it quickly transpired into a plot line that I felt was absolutely ridiculous. By the end of the story, I felt like it was all so unbelievable that I was disconnected entirely. I also ended up not liking any of the characters by the end, which makes it difficult for me to be invested in their stories.
This book was not for me, but I will still keep Julia Bartz on my radar and try a different book in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship