Reviews tagging 'Bullying'
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
19 reviews
mayaism_01's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This was tooth-achingly sweet, with a deeply rich center, and the most heartwarming cast of characters. The perfect balance of humor, emotional depth, and charm. I loved this rag-tag bunch, and this story was well-paced and beautifully written, I really enjoyed this!
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, Physical abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
ohheyitskaitlin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement, Bullying, Grief, Blood, Alcohol, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
This book was just as cozy and good and magical the second time around! I reread this because we're reading it for my book club, and I'm so excited to have people to talk about it with, because the first time I read it it hadn't come out yet and I was trying so hard to convince anyone I could to read it. I love this book.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Bullying, Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Murder, Homophobia, Abortion, and Death of parent
hootreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Cursing, and Death of parent
Minor: Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
sarahholliday's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm very glad I stuck it out and finished this one, because it was truly lovely! The start was a bit slow and felt sort of generic, but as soon as the children entered the story I was hooked.
Kids being my favorite part of the story is uncommon, but Mandanna manages to write three very unique, funny, strong-willed girls who throw around curse words and threats of murder in the most endearingly innocent ways.
The romance storyline is what kept it from being five stars for me. There were a few deeper "get to know each other" moments between Mika and Jamie, but overall it felt like the reader is supposed to take for granted that these two beautiful young people will fall in love.
Regardless, this is a warm and cozy read about found-family and carving out a space for yourself in the world. Absolutely recommend if you're looking for something to put a smile on your face!
Kids being my favorite part of the story is uncommon, but Mandanna manages to write three very unique, funny, strong-willed girls who throw around curse words and threats of murder in the most endearingly innocent ways.
The romance storyline is what kept it from being five stars for me. There were a few deeper "get to know each other" moments between Mika and Jamie, but overall it felt like the reader is supposed to take for granted that these two beautiful young people will fall in love.
Regardless, this is a warm and cozy read about found-family and carving out a space for yourself in the world. Absolutely recommend if you're looking for something to put a smile on your face!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Death
microbemom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Adorable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Bullying
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A warm hug in book form. This story is healing, this story is tender, and this story is beautiful—an invitation to take a chance on love, even if it opens you up to the potential for heartbreak. It highlights the importance of relationship, and of kindness. I loved every second of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Grief
drkappitan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
This was quite enjoyable, all the more so because the protagonist and her love interest are in their 30s, and so have rather more practice at communicating like reasonable humans than most romance protagonists. I also enjoyed the actual romancing, though it's a bit more of a slow burn than I really prefer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Abandonment
thaliareads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Such a fun and original book. I enjoyed every minute of it and didn't see all the twists and turns coming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, and Homophobia
For the racism and homophobia content warnings they refer to a character who briefly appears who they are unsure if he is racist, homophobic, or both - it did seem to be both. The main characters in this book are wonderfully diverse, hence the other character's issue with them. One of the MCs does offer alcohol to the other on multiple instances, but it's not lingered on. Death does come up fairly often during the book, so keep that in mind. Additionally, there is some sexual content, but it is fade to black. The next set of warnings does require some spoilers: