Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

11 reviews

nonfictionfeminist's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

If you like Rosemary's Baby, give this one a try. Similar vibes with a strong feminist theme.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

emperorcupcake's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

4.0

I was curious to read Megan Abbott's new book, after loving <i>The Turnout</i> and <i>The End of Everything</i> and then DNFing <i>Dare Me</i>. This was a solid 4 stars. I often don't like thriller/horror that revolves around pregnancy, I don't have kids and I can't relate. It often seems like the same story, too. Like, I get it! And so was this; this was exactly what you think it is, a pregnant woman being controlled and gaslit by folksy men. But it's all in the telling. I found this genuinely gripping and tense, even slightly scary, due to Megan Abbott's narrative style. This same story could have felt slight, or redundant, but the writing kept me glued to the pages. And there was a reveal that surprised me.

This was an effective way of showing the creepy and dangerous control men have over women's bodies, especially regarding pregnancy. It's not subtle, but I thought the small, intimate setting really brought home how widespread an issue this is. This happens everywhere, all the time, maybe not to this extreme but the metaphor hits home. I'm not giving this 5 stars because even though I really enjoyed it, I thought it felt a little unfinished. Like there were things alluded to that were never explored, so the end felt a little anti-climatic after all that tension building. Some of it just never went anywhere. (Like why did Jed change?) But there was one part of the ending I absolutely loved!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Abortion

irenemarie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Abortion, Classism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Blood

Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

bekah1210's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Abortion, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Blood

Minor: Gun violence

cinnaminskies's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

MEGAN ABBOT YOU BEAST

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Murder, and Vomit

kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

honestly this was a lot of anxiety-inducing ramp up for very little payoff. maybe it’s because it’s 4 am and I’m too tired to be surprised but like… nothing about that ending was shocking or exciting. 

that being said i really liked the journey. this book is a lesson in how a normal life can take a couple of turns into Uber-weird and horrifying, and how close and familiar those creepy pro-choice conservatives really are at all times. people like that tend to feel mythical and easy to write off as bible thumpers harassing people outside of PP, but realistically those people are all around us & hidden amongst seemingly sane individuals. spooky and tummy-upsetting. Jacy made a lot of really wild choices but almost all of them stemmed from a need for companionship; a pretty universal feeling that got her into a world of trouble.

also: this book felt like it was ramping up to some sort of supernatural point so I was a bit let down there too. what the fuck was up with the pasties

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Body horror

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Abortion

kaczorlantz's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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

3.0

The book felt very atmospheric. I don’t fully understand the weird hold the father has on the son, but maybe I’m not supposed to? And I wanted more of a conclusive ending. In all, it was alright. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Blood

Moderate: Abortion and Domestic abuse

Minor: Vomit

aileron's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Animal death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Gun violence

karajay's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this one! This was a true horror story.
Definitely a slow burn, but one that was well worth it.
This claustrophobic tale of Jacy, a woman who is pregnant with her first child, who visits her husband's family for a holiday weekend. Things take a sinister turn when Jacy has a health scare.
The terror that Jacy feels while trying to protect her baby and herself will get to even those of us who haven't or won't experience pregnancy.
Megan Abbott's writing style paints beautiful terrifying pictures of the events of this novel. She always keeps me coming back.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy and Death of parent

dfrancis's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

I enjoyed the book but I feel like the ending left a little to be desired. The book really plays on fears about bodily autonomy, misogyny, and reproductive justice, which all feels very relevant. It definitely had the creeping suspense of a gothic but I feel like the ending happened too quickly and was just a little lackluster and unclear. I’ve seen some people say the writing felt disjointed and didn’t flow well but i didn’t find that to be an issue, but I was listening to the audiobook and maybe it comes off better through that. Overall, decent read but not my fave

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Animal death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Body horror