Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

10 reviews

ninahuynh's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

This book is much slower paced compared to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. There were several parts where there is an obvious way to do something, but the character chose to complicated way to make their life harder... Definitely a different kind of plot twist from the series. This is more of a disappearance/reappearance mystery, family mystery than murder mystery. Maybe suspense, not quite thriller.

My favorite line is "I'm hungry" 😂 iykyk (audiobook version)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Stalking, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

zahraloujain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

The Reappearance of Rachel Price is an emotional journey of mystery and redemption, weaving complex themes of loss, love, and the unexpected returns of people who shaped us. Holly Jackson’s writing is strikingly authentic, with a cast of fully realized characters who drive the story’s profound emotional impact. 

“[…] she didn’t always have to pick the way that hurt less. Some hurts were good: friends grew apart, people moved away, they left. It didn’t have to last forever to count. Things ended, this was ending, but that didn’t mean it never mattered.” 

“The people who loved you, the ones who really cared, they would always come back. Sometimes, they even came back from the dead.” 

 

One of the most powerful aspects of Jackson’s storytelling is the way she creates characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply relatable. The protagonist, Bel, is not easy to like at first—she’s rough around the edges, her pain sharp and almost abrasive—but that’s precisely what makes her journey so compelling. By the end, Bel’s character arc becomes a testament to healing and self-forgiveness. In grappling with her trauma, she learns to embrace the idea that things don’t have to last to matter and that the people who truly care will always find a way back.

 

The relationship between Bel and Ash is a subtle yet deeply affecting thread in the novel. Their journey, particularly that last scene, carries a bittersweet beauty, leaving readers both hopeful and heartbroken. Jackson’s talent for emotional complexity is apparent here, as Bel and Ash share a bond that feels destined, even if not straightforwardly “happily ever after”. Their ending is left open enough to inspire a sense of faith in their future. At least that’s what I have convinced myself of.

 

True to her style, Jackson keeps readers on edge with her plot twists, making The Reappearance of Rachel Price impossible to put down. While some twists may be anticipated, others come out of nowhere, keeping the experience both unpredictable and emotionally intense. This roller coaster of emotions—anger, heartbreak, and ultimately peace—leaves a lasting impression, making the book hard to shake even after the last page is turned. And Jackson’s inclusion of diverse characters feels effortless, lending authenticity without seeming forced or performative. 

 

In short, The Reappearance of Rachel Price is a must-read, earning a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Holly Jackson’s gift for authentic character development and her nuanced exploration of trauma make this novel unforgettable. It’s a story that lingers, one that feels achingly real, and it’s clear that Jackson has become a treasured staple on my bookshelf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Dementia, Death of parent, and Abandonment

keelymightread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Miscarriage and Misogyny

fanboyriot's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

♡ Plot Twist

♡ Missing Person Found

♡ Who Should You Trust?

A documentary for a missing woman who suddenly returns after sixteen years.  Bell is left to unravel the true, to find out who was lying to her about what happened that night her mom went missing.  Was she even really taken to begin with?  But Bell soon realizes she can’t trust the people she thought she could.

This was a bit slow but at about the 30% mark it kicked in.  This story was wild and I was so invested.  Each truth Bell found out added to the story so well.  The mystery, the suspense of what really happened when Rachel disappeared was all an addictive read.  I didn’t see some of the twists coming when it came to Rachel’s disappearance.  It was also really entertaining to see some of the behind the scenes of the making of the documentary.

Spice Level: n/a

Angst Level: 💧💧 (2/5)

POV: Third Person

Release Date: 07, September 2024

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping

hedwig2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Gaslighting

caitlinspeachyreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Miscarriage and Pandemic/Epidemic

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC. I am providing this review of my own accord. 

This book follows 18-year-old Bel as she begins filming a documentary about her mom Rachel's disappearance when she was 2 years old. Her father only agreed to this because they desperately need the money, and they just haven't received any answer about Rachel's whereabouts in the last 16 years. They're hoping the money will help their family, as Bel's grandfather slips deeper into dementia, and that they can possibly find some answers regarding Rachel. However, all of a sudden, Rachel re-appears and havoc ensues, obviously! Her answers about where she has been do not make sense to Bel, and Bel refuses to be led astray, investigating her mom herself, with the help of a documentary staff member, Ash. She leaves her younger cousin Carter and aunt Sherry and uncle Jeff out of this though, as she doesn't want to upset her family, especially her dad.

The audiobook is 16 hours, so if you listen at 2x speed, then it's 8 hours. I loved the AGGGTM series, like it is one of my all-time favorite young adult thrillers/mysteries. I think the entire trilogy is genius!!! However, this book was too long! HAHAHA. My friends who read this review will laugh at me, because that's always my top criticism and I'm sorry! I feel this could have been 4 hours shorter, cutting out a lot of extra fluff, especially the romance between

Ash and Bel, because I didn't particularly feel the same vibes I felt between Poppy & Sal in AGGGTM, but that's just me I guess?

Anyway, the actual mystery of:

• what happened to Rachel
• who took her
• how she escaped
• why she came back/at this time
• where Bel's dad went 

was .... not what I was expecting, and yet.....

it's always some dusty, crusty man. Let's be real! And it's always the spouse UGH.

Holly Jackson once again did the damn thing in letting ciswomen make wild choices, and allowing readers to unwaveringly support them lmao. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I only wish it was shorter & I had to suspend disbelief in the aunt/uncle's storylines because ... I find that almost wrapped up *too* nicely with a bow, but whatevs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

madreadings's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

twisty, dark, emotional.  a good look into the phenomenon and obsession people have with true crime.  another banger from holly jackson  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Kidnapping, and Grief

siennaflynn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Torture, Medical content, and Death of parent

mqrek's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Where do I even start with this book, holy shit. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I was eager to read through the end, to the big mystery to be solved. At the beginning I thought that the protagonist was insufferable, at one point I even wanted to stop reading because of that.

I think I saw through the gaslighting of her dad and was just waiting for Bel to finally catch up already!

At the end EVERYTHING made sense and it left me with immense satisfaction.
This book is even better than AGGGTM and AGGGTM is already very good.
Holly Jackson, you've done it again! Cheers to the modern Agatha Christie!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting