Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

182 reviews

tmcphetridge4's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

My first Tiffany Jackson book, I listened to it in one sitting while I made cupcakes for several hours. I... did not like this book. But I want to make it clear that this is NOT my chosen genre of book (I have to read this book for a course I am helping to teach). I found myself cringing all throughout the first half of the book. I know that is the point (to depict a toxic relationship), but I just... wouldn't choose to read this book. Aside from the very clear toxic elements of the book, I thought the "plot twist" at the end was cheap. I am not a big fan of books that "twist" the ending and make you question everything about what you just read. I saw the twist coming, but I also think that it wasn't necessary. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Death, Drug use, and Rape

ksuazo94's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Trafficking, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

kaerene's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow. Grown was so good, super heartbreaking and sad but so goos. Tiffany D. Jackson is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing is amazing and just hits you so hard in the face with her stories and the character’s journey. Grown sucks you in with the murder of a famous rockstar and then transforms into a story about the music industry and how men with power take advantage of girls and women. I highly recommend reading this but definitely check out the trigger warnings. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

angelacher's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, Drug abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Damn, Tiffany Jackson and her unwell, unbelieved Black girls. So far I am 3 for 3 with her books. They hurt and are beautiful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Classism, Sexual content, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Child abuse

ruinedbyreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Physical abuse

unfxckwhittable's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Characters: 4.5

Plot: 4.0

Theme: 3.5

Cover: 5.0 

17 yo Enchanted Jones’ dreams of becoming a singer seem within reach when she encounters 28 yo superstar Korey Fields. But soon her dreams turn into a living nightmare. 

Tiffany Jackson was one of my favorite authors of 2022. And reading this in 2023 did not disappoint. Jackson has a gift for evoking emotion from me through her words. I utterly detested KF and everyone who supported him and his lifestyle, he gave me the ick from the first touch. But I really enjoyed how this story was written—from the plot twists to the ending. 
This story touches on many important and timely topics, and certainly made me reflect on my own views. I found I was annoyed by Enchanted’s attitude about “being grown” at 17 and wanting to be treated like an adult, even though I was the same way at her age. I caught myself falling into the “fast girls” narrative and had to reflect on why I was judging a child with an adult lens. This book also made me really think about how to build my own children up and communicate with them so they don’t need to find love and value externally, but also so they don’t feel the need to deliberately keep things from their parents like Enchanted did. 
I also appreciated the inclusion of the social media comments on how society forms their opinions on situations like this with BM/BW, because every single comment was one I had seen when talking about R. Kelly. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Kidnapping, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

kelegrace's review

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

happynessheals's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

WARNING! this book can be triggering for some. It’s a great read, but in the middle I stopped reading because it was triggering me. the plots are great and the ending did not feel rushed! The ending was actually extremely unexpected and this book was a thrill ride!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

tahsintries's review

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Racism