Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

15 reviews

ariana3's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

I thought this book was okay. I like the overall general premise and storyline, but some parts felt rushed whereas others felt too drawn out. The "romance" part was definitely a tease, but there were times I thought it was going to go in the direction of a full romance novel and I'm very glad it didn't. I did really love the ending, though it felt too Disney-movie-happy-ending (if that's your thing!). I also wish there was at least one or two more chapters at the end! But it was a good place to end and you can use your imagination for the future.
Plot summary:

The main character, Natalie, has 2 older siblings Lynn and Jake. Back when she was in high school and Lynn and Jake were in college, she called the cops on them because she was being spiteful yet they had drugs and were high in the house. Jake's friend ended up dying and Lynn and Jake went to jail for several years. After their mother dies, her will states in order to keep their beautiful Santa Cruz mansion, all 3 of them must reunite within a specific time period or the house is donated to the local historical society. Natalie hasn't talked to her siblings since they went to prison over 15 years before. She thinks her siblings hate her for what she did. But Natalie's personal life is falling apart, so she drives cross-country from Boston to Santa Cruz to find her siblings. She stays at the house with her cat, and eventually Lynn shows up with her tween son. Lynn has run away from her abusive husband to the house to start a new life. She's still bitter and holding a grudge against Natalie. Their brother Jake is missing. Natalie enlists the help of his lab-mate, who she slowly falls in love with. They eventually find Jake, who has been hiding out from everyone, including work, at their late mom's boyfriend's house. Turns out Jake isn't angry at either of them and wants them all to live together as a family unit in the house. Natalie quits her job in Boston, leaves her toxic relationship, and starts a dream program and job doing scientific illustration in Santa Cruz. I like how it was a nice ending, but it felt like everything tied up too perfectly and everyone got what they wanted. The book did not seem like that would happen, but everything worked out for everyone in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death and Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, and Alcohol

nicolaparty's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

jordanreads's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

A bit slow at times, even on audiobook. I probably would’ve gotten bored and quit if I were physically reading it. 
The premise leads you to believe that the book will be a lot more mysterious and interesting than it really was, but it was a simple and enjoyable character study nonetheless. 
It could’ve been shorter; the entire boyfriend storyline added nothing to the story in my opinion.

 
I didn’t like the focus on mysterious things that ended up being nothing? For example, the brother is missing for the majority of the book and he’s been at the step-dad’s house all along? The cat was missing for a week and then just showed up with no explanation?

Tw: domestic violence, a graphic scene of assault 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent

mjs_18's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

torlee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, and Vomit

megs_bok's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Drug abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

skyba3's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Blood, and Vomit

alanamccausland's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

Enjoyed the beginning. Hoped for more throughout. The middle dragged on. Didn’t like the ending - it felt abrupt. Good writing but I could tell it was a debut novel. Nice plot ideas but not always developed enough. Kinda cheesy in a bad way at times.. predictable. Craved more from the characters. *Forgiving yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty and Cancer

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

This was a very fast paced book focused largely on healing and moving forward on an individual level (from the perspective of the narrator) and on a family level. I enjoyed it a lot with my favorite character being the cat.

There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalie’s siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.

Below this point has some minor spoilers.

Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom does  not talk to her for those 15 years, and her mom’s death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an “honest mistake”. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she “rat” them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called. 

While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Confinement and Terminal illness