Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

92 reviews

meganashlee27's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Gun violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Rape

ewindtberg's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is the fourth book that I’ve read from this author and it did not disappoint. I kind of-sort of knew what the plot was going into it based on short summaries but I didn’t expect it to be what it was (in a good way). That shark scene though?! Bonkers. The ending was crazy and creepy. Did I still read it and recommend this book to friends afterwards? Most definitely lol. Check the TWs as this book is not suitable for anyone under 18.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

haj2296's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Incest, Pedophilia, Body horror, Rape, and Sexual assault

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

2.0

Sawyer is on the run and hiding in  Australia. To get by, she has been stealing people's identities. Fate throws her in to Enzo's path and bed. After realizing his identity has been stolen, Enzo sets out to track down and punish the woman responsible.

The idea behind this book was interesting to me.

Spoiler

Two people who hate each other get shipwrecked on an isolated island where there is nothing but a creepy old man and some noisy "ghosts".

I liked the mystery vibes to it. That said, the dark romance edge didn't really work for me and the twists were super predictable. 

First off, I didn't like either of the characters. Sawyer has a really fucked up past and is dealing with all sorts of PTSD from it. Enzo is a psychopath shark expert. There was nothing redeeming about him.

Spoiler

A woman steals his identity, and his reaction is that shark scene? WTF! Truly a psycho.

I just didn't care about either of them. It's a shame because with Sawyer's background, there was so much potential for readers to make an empathetic connection.

Second, both characters felt flat and there was a lack of chemistry between them. It was all about who could hurt the other more. Together they are completely chaotic and explosive (not in a good way). There was no real character development in this book. Neither were likable, nor were they really redeemed by the end.

I feel like this would have worked better as a regular thriller without the dark romance edge to it. Parts of this book just dragged so much, and they were always the dark romance parts.

Tropes' forced proximity, enemies to lovers, morally grey, one bed

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gun violence

bibliophile1775's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Rape

kyrsten042's review against another edition

dark sad fast-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

Do not read. 

Disturbing. Books like this are dangerous because they model abusive relationships romantically. Also just really bad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Emotional abuse

lindseygcarden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child death, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

babeinbookland's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

cmdziura's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

3.0

I was not a huge fan of this novel like some of Carlton's other novels. 

Now, the overall storyline was intriguing. The FMC is mysterious and on the run, and the MMC is unsuspecting of the FMC and broody. There were some twists and turns I think the reader can see coming and of course there are some that pop up out of nowhere. 

My biggest complaint is the character development was incredibly underwhelming. He's just an asshole to be an asshole and she just takes it for the sake of taking it. & the growth they have happens in the span of about 1 or 2 chapters, that's it. I think it would have been a far more compelling story had we seen more growth and more development over the course of the book. 

Please double check TWs before you read because this is DARK with a lot of actions that had me wondering if I really read what I just read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Incest, and Suicidal thoughts

528's review against another edition

4.0

I dont know what to say right know and how i feel about this book.
Its definitely a fucked up dark romance.
I thought i cant root for them and overcome what he did to her in the beginnin but it became so much more fucked up afterwards i kind of did.

Its defineitely smutty and disturbingly hot.

Check your triggers before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

Minor: Car accident