Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

7 reviews

clairemarie420's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

elysests's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

So, so weird! Really interesting and atmospheric, but painfully slow at times. This book swerves from a tense and drawn own suspense novel to a devastatingly drawn out psychological horror ending. Even as a person who loves suspense/thrillers, and psychological storylines, I wish the author would have cinched together more of the (very cool) threads. Love the symbolism though, and the characters feel fresh. More specifics below the spoiler tag.

I really felt like the ending was unsatisfying— there are so many details I’m left confused by. I get that Jake was the janitor the whole time, and he was imagining what could have happened with a girl to care about him, but what was the man outside the window waving when she was a little girl? What about the scratches in the basement? What was the deal with the video in the janitor’s room, and the freaky notes? I feel like I barely understand what the caller signifies, and what their message means. This book is haunting, and definitely tense, but I wish the ending could have relieved some of the tension instead of just letting out the air. :/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

karmapen's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

This was so scary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, and Abandonment

offtheraels's review

dark

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

ecravens's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

wow. okay, so, over two years ago, a friend recounted this book to me, including its ending. later i started to read it but never finished; today i read it start to finish. even knowing the ending it was still so unsettling and creepy, which is commendable because i don't see myself as easily scared by books. and even as a horror/thriller, it had substance to it and leaves me with much to think about. recommend, though it's best to go in knowing as little as possible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Blood, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Alcohol

alexxm13's review

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.75

what the fuck. i’m so confused like it was alright for the first 90% but by the last chapter i was so confused did jake make this character of the girl??? and killed himself cause he felt alone? IM SORRY WHAT IS THIS😭😭😭 the way the author twisted it so much at the end got me all confused like okay so u went into an abondoned school’s closet to be alone and die there but made up this random girl’s story for “what if” this happens scenario like oh i liked that girl but was too scared cause i have intense social anxiety so i become a character, this book would have been great except the ending i am so confused.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abandonment, and Dysphoria