Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Girls, by Lisa Jewell

9 reviews

a_alves00's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Sexual content

teaofleaves's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Child death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Pedophilia

gemin1reader's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

2.75

Definitely not my favourite book by Lisa Jewell. The second half - ‘after’ the crime was much pacier and better than the first half. But I didn’t find myself invested in the characters and there were some loose ends that didn’t quite feel resolved for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault

pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Injury/injury detail, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicide

hkburke2's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

2.75

I loved the map and the setting - very atmospheric and cozy. I did not like the way the characters were described (a child could see another child's green eyes from across a backyard/garden?), and it seemed like big issues were not handled through to completion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Mental illness

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Vomit, Rape, Drug use, and Suicide

kenmorxo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

The book really did have me asking "whodunit" alot but the more I got to the end the more I found myself saying "umm no way. This isn't enough. What!" and I think that's why I couldn't give it a full 4. It is however a really good book and something to think about when reflecting on your life and how you interact with neighbors.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Blood and Bullying

Minor: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/injury detail, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual content

dalmavatai's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

Unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed my fourth Lisa Jewell and she's absolutely become a go-to mystery/thriller writer for me! The characters and their relationships are well developed and interesting to read about, and you feel for each one of these characters in the Garden. I liked the past mystery interwoven with the present one, and enjoyed that we get multiple POVs, mostly from Adele and Clare but also from Pip and Grace, and we also get to see the letters Pip writes to their dad which were really sweet and heartfelt. 

I do wish the pacing had been done a bit differently, there was a LOT of setup, much of which was needed, but maybe it could've been shortened just a tad bit so that we could've gotten more at the end. I liked the resolution though, and especially enjoyed the way that we kept going back and forth between the past and the present towards the end which created a really frantic atmosphere where you just wanted to get to the truth. 

It was a bit slow paced, especially in the first half, which is why I didn't enjoy it as much as I could've but honestly this book made me really excited to get to more of Lisa Jewell's backlist!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, and Sexual assault

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

rinnfoskey's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

1.5

I know some people loved this book which is why I purchased initially, but don't think I would recommend it. Technically the writing was compelling and and the story initially hooked me, but I found some of the themes to be uncomfortable. Not in a way that I felt challenged me so I learned something but was perhaps unnecessary? Or that she didn't really know what message she wanted you to take away. 

I did find it interesting the use of flashback so you first read of the incident that happened, then flashback and work your way to the present so it makes you consider each character with suspicion.

<Spoiler>

 The plot revolves around a 13 year old girl who is found in a communal garden in a coma with her shirt pulled up and pants pulled down. The novel then flashes back and tells you the story up to the present. There are suspicions and descriptions of inappropriate behaviour from 18 year old with 13 year old, and a father man who grabs and leers at all the women (in the past). 

Ultimately the plot/resolution is a love triangle but with the 13 year olds. I found the sexual activity descriptions of such young characters particularly against the suspicions of paedophilia uncomfortable. The lift scene being a prime example... I don't think it was either pushing the boundary of comfort to really explore coming of age and sexual maturity, etc. I felt more like it was just used as plot tool and I think with these types of stories you really have to be careful.  
Also the girl who is found, her sister and her mom moved to the garden because their father is schizophrenic and has an episode where he burns their house down. While it provides a compelling back story, again I don't know if it was approached in the best way. Though he is in hospital, is treated and ultimately released it does come across as "you can never really trust mentally ill folks to not try and kill you!'

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Mental illness

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, Pedophilia, and Sexual content