Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Losers: Part II by Harley Laroux

11 reviews

autumnwitch14's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

wandering_seal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.5

Reread.

Right. I love this series, love these characters, but I'd be lying if I didn't say this books got issues. It drags a bit when the story turns into

in-which-Jess-says-"I love you"-one-by-one

. Jess's mother does not get the comeuppance she deserves. But. BUT. The romance. The feels. I love these characters and I only want the best for them and this story is a part of that so how could I rate it poorly. It's got lots going for it if you can work around its issues. This story has stayed with me in a way I never would have anticipated, I love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence

art3m1sxx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

hereiskyra's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Man, this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I was stressed and sad and happy and everything in between. There was a bit more of a plot in this part, fortunately, and I think that made the story that much better. 

We explored allllllll of the trauma, which was helpful in making me fall for each and every one for these boys even deeper. And I’m so glad we got to see more of what made Jessica the way she is/was. She had trauma too, even if it looked completely different from each of the others’ trauma. She came (no pun intended) so far over the course of just a few months. They all had me an emotional wreck. 

I love their love and I had no idea how much I’d feel for each separate character and how much their personalities really blossomed. 

I genuinely loved getting to see the bonds between the boys grow and strengthen, like Jason and Lucas. And I know everyone is loving Daddy Manson, and same but…. There’s no way in hell anyone can pick a favorite here, right? I love them all so much (Vince, dude… you’re still my least favorite but you’re cool). 

Something about a seemingly emotionally unavailable man being nice to animals (looking at you Lucas)… I’ve always got a big soft spot for them.

This was some for the smuttiest reading I’ve ever done and it was also some of the hottest. There was not a single… scene… I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and that tells me a lot about myself I didn’t know before. But I’m okay with that. 😂

I already know this is going to be a re-read for me one day. I just finished and I already miss all the characters. I need more!

Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers

Found Family

BDSM/Kinks

Polyamory 

MF/MM/MMFMM (everybody loves everybody)

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

jlpxoxo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, and Abandonment

poupimali's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is definitely the best dark reverse harem I’ve ever read.
HEA guaranteed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

3.5

It’s clear what the main goal of each of the books in this duology is: the first book is about reunion, overcoming lingering resistance to a relationship between Jessica and each of the members of this group, and building trust. And the second book is about love, and the admission/acceptance that they all love Jess and vice versa, as well as healing and forgiveness between them.

I understand that none of those things can be rushed, so on the one hand, I understand why it needed to be broken into two books and why each of the books had to be so long, but to be totally honest, this one still felt a bit too long to me. I think it’s because at least in the first book there was tension; the book started with Jess still hanging with the popular kids and so, plot-wise, a lot more BIG, external shifts had to happen in that book. It kept my attention.

This one, they’re already in a relationship, so all of the shifts that take place happen on a character-driven, emotional level. Sure there’s some outside threat with Manson’s father, but honestly  that aspect of the plot feels very marginal.

Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this series. I enjoyed getting to know each of the guys individually and their stories. The sex was obviously very very hot. The found family element was *chef’s kiss*. It wasn’t bad by ANY means and I’d still absolutely recommend it. I just thought this one moved a little slow at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Murder

suse_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.0

My people in Christ- this series left me, an asexual, definitely polycurious and yet again aching to be able and meet fictional characters irl. 

I think The Losers series will always hold a special place in my heart because it was so easy and natural to love each of the characters in a unique way. Manson, Vincent, Jason and Lucas felt so real to me and my heart aches a little that I can’t meet the guys irl. Yes, I went into this expecting moral-grayness, and yes I have a thing for troubled and sometimes broken characters but the development they went through -especially in this book- was outstanding and very realistic. They all deserve all the happiness. 

There are only two minor flip-sides for me, both are personal opinions and/or preferences.

The first (1) ist definitely just a personal opinion- I started this series for the moral-grayness and dubious protagonists. But the development and healing they went through took that a little away. The second (2) one is both a flip-side and a good solution for that-I am never a fan of a pregnancy trope or mention or the topic in general in any way BUT I actually appreciate the way the author resolved it here. Very slight mention, no big deal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Outing

Please make sure to read the Content Note provided at the beginning of the book. It summarizes any and all kinks and other topics explored in the book!

hq_reads's review against another edition

dark medium-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

2.5

I feel terrible for this review because I love Harley LaRoux’s books but I had to put this down I was getting bored. I can completely understand how some people would love this book, but for me personally, I need some plot/intrigue - even in spicy books. This series could have just been one book as the plot didn’t really go anywhere. This one felt dragged out. I took a break and read a few books in between and when I came back to it I really struggled. 

I really like the characters and enjoyed some of the spice but it felt very formulaic and predictable. The Dare will forever be one of my favourite books and this series was missing the almost unbearable anticipation that The Dare had. 

Pros: the sex scene in the holiday cabin was hot as fuck, the author writes consent so well, I really like the characters.

Cons: the plot was weak, sex scenes felt repetitive, a penis gets called a “glans”….!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent

saraohneh's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism and Body shaming