Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Ward D by Freida McFadden

5 reviews

greatexpectations77's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

I liked this one fine, and it had the patented Frieda McFadden twists. But god damn, you would think this was written 40 years ago for how it talked about mental health! Super judgy and exclusive terms about people being crazy and unstable and like animals. It felt like McFadden had never met a mentally ill person. Folks in overnight facilities are all trying their best. No one wants to live with a brain that tortures them. Everyone is deserving of care. And I feel like if one of Amy's doctors had read this book, she would get a severe talking to about how she refers to mentally ill patients. Also, she needs to get her head out of her ass about this whole I-was-dumped-for-a-test thing. People make mistakes! They get really stressed about life-changing tests and they screw up their priorities! But don't spend the whole book

hating your ex and then suddenly feel all bad when he's dead.

McFadden has written female characters that were way easier to support than Amy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

aparker89's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

3.5

Need a fast paced book that I a good distraction from everyday life? This is certainly a good one for that. This author is good at writing fast paced, easy to read books that capture your attention. It's certainly not perfect and some of the "twists" are pretty predictable for any seasoned mystery reader. I appreciate that this book (although similar to another by this same author in pattern and story) takes place over the course of a single night. It makes it that much more compelling to finish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

mrsd2008's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, and Death of parent

killmoore_'s review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

Ward D is fun. 

Throw out all of your anger about how unrealistic the medical ward setting is (we get it) and let yourself enjoy this slightly cheesy, b-movie vibe, absolutely ridiculous plotline. 

Despite having figured out the big twist about 30% in, I live for a good unreliable narrator story, and this had me second guessing our MC every step of the way. Amy is terrible, and by the end I was almost rooting for her to die.

HOWEVER. The end had me cackling. I had been so angry with how they "wrapped up" the little girl plot point that I was thrilled to have a little extra.

Despite its faults, this was a fun, fast paced read that I couldn't put down. We love Frieda.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

pageafter_paige's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is hands down one of Frieda’s best in my opinion. I was hooked instantly by the short chapter and the writing style! I was on the edge of my seat as I read this in one sitting. The entire book I was waiting for the next shoe to drop and I was trying so hard to figure out the twists but yet again Freida has me tricked! I loved how we got present day chapters and then flash backs from 8 years before to provide more context and deepen the characters. 

I really don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away but damn I wish this book was a movie! If you’re looking for a fast paced psychological thriller or are in a slump this is the book for you!!!! 

I know I’m hyping this up so much but really this felt like I just discovered Freida for the first time again. Maybe I NEEDED a thriller of maybe she’s just THAT GOOD but either way this is a top tier read for me!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism