Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Third Person by Emma Grove

5 reviews

daniellekat's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Wow. This was intense, insightful and emotional. This was an incredible account of the author's gender transition and reckoning with her D.I.D. diagnosis. I thought the sparse illustrations were fitting, but I found the facial expressions a bit lacking. It was hard for me to really understand some of the nuances during the conversations with Toby. On the topic of Toby,

From the blub I thought he was going to be a supportive asset to Emma but was actually shocked with his treatment of her. I was unprepared for some of those scenes and often had to take breaks between certain chapters. I understand that there is a level of narrator unreliability here, but the disrespect and mistreatment was appalling.

Overall, I enjoyed this especially since it is a topic I am very unfamiliar with, but I'd strongly recommend checking the content warnings on this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

Medical malpractice

magical_sof's review

emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.25

Overall, I think Emma's story is very well written and drawn. Her experiences with healthcare (specifically with receiving mental health care) as a trans person is unfortunately all to common. I feel for her experiences during therapy deeply, and found myself worrying about her (almost) never ending therapeutic relationship with Toby! I enjoyed that part. 

I will say that this book is not an educational book about DID, and I would caution folks reading this book to gain a better understanding of DID, if they have no prior knowledge. I understand there is only so much you an put in a graphic novel, and only so much that you are willing to personally disclose as an author, or even only so much you can remember, but I find the (clinical/practical) explanation and (personal) resolution of DID to be quite fast! I came into this having read several books from those with lived experience, and knowing systems, so I didn't have any issues understanding, but if you have no knowledge, it may be helpful to do a bit of background reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Bullying, Child abuse, and Transphobia

Moderate: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Violence, and Toxic relationship

indeedithappens's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

frozenduck's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Transphobia, and Emotional abuse

jainabee's review

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

5.0

It was impossible for me to put this book down, even though it was very uncomfortable to read. Emma manages to convey nuanced emotions and the wordless experience of dissociation into the lines of her drawings. Maybe it's her animation background that adds to the fast-paced feeling of a flip book?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Dysphoria, and Bullying

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny

Minor: Forced institutionalization