Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

63 reviews

cristine's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I’m really torn with this one and keep fluctuating between a 3 and a 4. If you read this and accept it at surface value it’s not good and the amount of unnecessary sex scenes makes you roll your eyes. But if you read this and understand the depth and layers id the different themes explored (which I hope is what Greer was striving for) then it’s pretty darn good (still with a lot of unnecessary scenes and several inconsistencies. Thinking about the themes: women being demoralized to being used for cooking, raising children and sex but as robots that rich men could buy, emotional abuse, control, falling victim to the abuse mindset and having no control or understanding “who I am”, searching for freedom, finding identity, feeling isolated, being afraid to your true self, to name a few. Overall, I think this was delivered in a direct way that any critical thinker could understand the depth to this novel and ignore some of the holes. The ending was a bit anticlimactic and I really would’ve loved to know what happened next but I guess that’s for the reader’s imagination. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

readingredhead's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

m3lwar3's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Abandonment

deadwhiterabbit's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

kugelvilli's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

*what was I made for by Billie Eilish, starts playing in the background*

This was another buddy read, and let me tell you, I'm usually the one who takes longer to finish a book, but this one I couldn't put down. 

First of all, Doug is the stereotypical nice guy who always plays the victim, when in fact he's a gaslighting piece of shit and this is his official hate club.

But enough about this duchebag, I adored Annie and I was so proud of her journey and  I could definitely relate to a lot of the feelings she was experiencing.

I was fascinated by how the book made me think about society and in particular the universal theme of power and control, including how gender roles and intimacies are exploited to gain control over an intimate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

linnybear's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

She is not human. She is Annie, a Stella, her own star. No more and no less

Reading this book wasn't a pleasant experience by any means but I'm glad I've decided to finish it despite such heavy themes. I definitely expected more of a sci-fi story, instead got a heartbreaking tale about autonomy, abuse and control in very human relationships. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, a lot of anger and genuine sadness for Annie's situation but I found the ending almost cathartic and satisfying enough to make up for it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

danie_joye_breit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

For anyone particularly tired of "Men Writing Women," Annie Bot is a unique and refreshingly solid take on the complicated relationships between romantic partners and with oneself. I feel like I learned about my own metacognition from this book, and given how painfully relatable the content was, I laude the author for keeping the story brief (<250 pages). It packs a punch, but every adult should read Annie Bot.

laran_s's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Stalking

Minor: Racism

Heavy coercive control. Predatory behaviour. Also, Annie is between 2-3 years old most of the novel despite the maturity of her body.

literary_fey's review against another edition

dark tense 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

1.0

I had a full review formatted and typed out but lost it in a fit of rage without saving. Probably for the best. 

This book made me so incredibly angry. Very disappointing. It had gratuitous sex scenes coupled with tense scenes of gaslighting and emotional abuse, repetitive writing, and there was no meaningful commentary on "intimacy, power, autonomy, and control" as the tagline suggests. 

Ultimately, I read this in a spiteful sprint to get it over with and return it to the library. One of my worst reads this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

reading_bear22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting