Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao

19 reviews

littleyarngoblin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Certainly well written, but I couldn’t help but be frustrated that the Proctor

turned out to be another character who’s only alluded to but never contextualized

. I think mysteries should be solvable for people paying close attention, but this relied on audiences being kept in the dark the entire time. Still thrilling, but I wouldn’t read it again 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, and Alcohol

themoodreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

maregred's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death and Suicide

Minor: Child abuse

xiekaili's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Addiction, Bullying, and Drug use

itzbrianna's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This mystery is incredibly tantalizing and will leave you frustrated, angry, and maybe even a little set on revenge.

How we fall apart is a tale of how destructive it can be to be the child of immigrant parents. It forces you to come to terms with all the ways your parents may have harmed you despite their love for you. And it puts a mirror up to the delusion immigrants drink in when coming to the United States. 

Though I enjoyed this book, I was quite disappointed with the ending on how it was left with two of the characters. One particular character deserves to be in JAIL. And the other let their minimal character development flush down the drain. 

Katie Zhao did an amazing job with her descriptions, attention to detail, and a shocking twist at the climax of this story. Where Zhao and possibly the editors have fallen short, is the character development for the main characters. There was a lot of potential to have certain people grow by the conclusion of this book. Though I love the theme of revenge throughout this book nonetheless. 

If you are someone who thinks about revenge fantasies and loves a murder mystery, this novel is for you! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism

tahsintries's review against another edition

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It's giving Gossip Girl, Ace of Spades, Pretty Little Liars, all of Karen McManus' YA books but set with a predominantly Asian cast. So if you liked any of those, this could be right up your alley. I enjoyed it although it was a little predictable. I connected a lot with the whole "Asian immigrant family expecting the best" thing because I experienced that in my school years. Like ridiculous expectations of being the best and not talking about your mental health struggles because you have to be strong and look at the sacrifices your family did so you could grow up in America. So some of it hit real close to home.
I wish at the end we knew the secret of the Golden Trio but it was still a fulfilling (although maybe a bit frustrating) ending.
F in the chat for Alexander tho. Man shot his shot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

blueberry0531's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Bullying

yogyaa's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

it was a nice book but I felt like a lot of things were drawn from one of us is lying 

 
em being the protactor was kinda predictable but Louisa being em, it wasn't 

 
overall I just didn't feel really connected to the characters and I REALLY didn't like Peter. Altho I will be intrested to read the whole "secret of the golden trio" 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

bookwyrm_sisters's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Bullying, Drug use, and Alcohol