Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

34 reviews

autumnn_96's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Ok so this has been my absolute FAVORITE book I've read all year! When you understand the history of cinema and how people became stars, this book will really engage you. And I really enjoyed the fact that the ending is not cookie cutter, but very real. Sex, love and drugs.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

talia1007's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Drug abuse

Lots of discussion of body image. Lots of drug use

alpal_collective's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Suicide, Addiction, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia and Alcoholism

noshinbean's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Cancer, Grief, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

fiatzar's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

fabulously depressing, valley of the dolls is the perfect showbusiness corruption story. it highlights the decadence and alienation of the entertainment industry, whilst also commenting on the social restrictions placed on women in this era - all in a very camp manner (probably not intended, but a highlight nonetheless). i loved jennifer and anne (and had a love-hate relationship with neely), and found their stories fascinating. an intimately camp portrait of a descent into, well, the valley of the dolls.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

chrisp189's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Fatphobia, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship

vera_nikolajevna's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Eating disorder and Homophobia

tschmitty's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

 I understand how this was a sensational read at the time of publication, but the longer it went on the less I cared about the three characters involved. Neely was especially annoying, what a pill! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Body shaming, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Addiction, Homophobia, Abortion, Alcoholism, Drug use, Cancer, and Sexism

jupitervivienne's review against another edition

dark slow-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

3.5

Like reality tv in book form. It’s not a piece of outstanding writing or anything, but with all the stereotypical scandalous Hollywood tropes it’s a fun read. Heavy on the offensive content that makes it clear it’s from the 60s, though at some point you just accept everyone and everything being awful and ride it out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Racism

mmegantylerr's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship