Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

29 reviews

readandgab's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the most intense books I have ever read. The intensity just steadily increases throughout the entire book and never lulls. It is a really fascinating and disturbing examination of misogyny, sexual violence, and gender essentialism. If reading about extreme sexual abuse and hatred of women is very triggering for you, please do not read this. It is hard to get through and I spent the last half very panicked. I do not feel the author include any acts of violence gratuitously and so it is also an almost validating book of how terrifying it can be to be a woman in a patriarchal society. It is very well written and I liked the inclusion of the podcast recordings to mix up the delivery of the story. 

There is a lot to unpack and discuss in this which makes it a great read. For as extreme as the acts are in the story, they feel very realistic (and are things that have happened in real life). 

Incredible read IF you are able to read the graphic content without being harmed. It is not worth risking your mental health if you feel these topics are not right for you. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Gaslighting

editoryalizing's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.25

This novel will be most enjoyed by cishet white women who view the handmaid‘s tale as a pivotal text about women’s oppression. While Shay’s experience is indicative of the gendered violence that exists globally, albeit in varying degrees, it is overwhelmingly lacking. 

For all the exploration of power — who has it, how it’s taken, the ways we exert it over others — we never reckon with the innate power of of being white, cisgender, or Pretty™️. Yes, being white is mentioned, but only when acknowledging the unlimited reach of the White Men who’ve evaded accountability for their crimes. On the other hand the White Women are simply women; victims without power. (the only woman acknowledge to have power is a sociopath???)

I did like the that there was conversation around feeling power and your exploitation because that phenomenon seems specific to misogyny. 

It was interesting enough for me to write a review.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

karensbookcorner's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Abandonment

cassielaj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Note: Take trigger warnings very seriously. This book is disturbing. 

I struggled with this book. At times, the disturbing content and themes made me want to put it down and never pick it back up. But I’m glad I continued, because I think the story at the center of this is one that needs to be heard and thought about. Shay is a complicated character, haunted by ghosts of her past and the way she’s experienced the world. The story this book tells about her introspection, her fight, and her search for her power is one that many women can relate to in some degree. I won’t say much else because I think you have to read all the way through to grasp that. But I’d highly recommend the author interview at the back of the book as well, and PLEASE check trigger warnings. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Gender essentialism, gender-based violence

kaykaytea's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Abandonment

eliserobinsonn__'s review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Torture and Death of parent

kelligrace's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

carmenvillaman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

mothumn's review against another edition

3.0

ARC REVIEW

This book really took me by surprise, it was extremely dark and gripping, and was not at all what I expected it to be. I read this very fast, there were so many twists and turns that I found it hard to put down, I just had to know what was going to happen next. It had its faults, I felt in some parts the believability dropped, the characters didn’t stand out, and the romance felt kinda thrown in and unnecessary, but the ending really got me. I thought it really brought everything together. I also really enjoyed the use of the podcast transcripts, not only was it a creative delivery but it also made a lot of sense and worked with the story. With the rise of true crime podcasts and youtube channels, it didn’t feel like a random addition at all.

While I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, I think for people who enjoy thrillers that cover dark and serious topics, especially around women’s issues, then you should definitely check this out. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury