Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

9 reviews

spacewahine's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Body horror, Vomit, and Violence

annchmn's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

5.0

First book I’ve been keen on for so long. I couldn’t stop reading it and the book felt less like reading words and more like living Eli’s life. 

This book felt like three books crammed into one but I’m glad that it was like that. There definitely were many unresolved that were a bit unbelievable. As well as some of the superhero esque invincibility. And I didn’t love the whole

Spoiler

Caitlyn Bell love story ending with them kissing and finally fulfilling Eli’s obsession with her and her looks… like after going through so much in the book it ends with them kissing which irked me

. Frankly the latter third of the book felt super different than what the start was building up to, and it was fun to read, but it felt like a whole different vibe than the style of the beginning, and I would’ve preferred more of the beginning. 

Apart from that, I had fun reading all the imagery and thoughts and details of Eli’s mind!!

Do your time before it does you!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Blood

waybeyondblue's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Minor: Vomit, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Cursing, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

booksforsarah's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

I had trouble with this books pacing. At times there was intense actions scenes where I couldn’t put the book down, and then other times there was literally pages of internal monologue that had me nodding off. I think if the pace was a bit more consistent I would have enjoyed the reading experience a lot more. 

I can definitely appreciate the good writing, it probably just isn’t the book for me and that’s okay. 

As an Australian though, I loved it. I loved seeing references to Australian slang and brands and places ect and seeing my home country so explicitly represented 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

self_scare's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

praises the police!

ellen_nicholson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, Blood, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

alicx_g's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

hannahiscrying's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

A heartwarming story of a boy in Brisbane growing up as he learns the truth of his past. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, and Violence