Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lapin by Mona Awad

66 reviews

sdloomer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Late to the train again, but it seems like I'm on the same carriage as some reviewers at least. I enjoyed being desperately confused at trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't (this book is the very definition of unreliable narrator), but I never felt an epiphanic realization at the climax when everything was wrapping up (I guess that's the point?) so I still feel a little cheated. 

I initially stayed away from this book because of the striking dichotomy of reviews I've read, but was finally convinced when a copy at the library became free. This isn't something I'd normally pick up, but I'm honestly glad I did because wow, did I like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

kurumipanda's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I loved this. It’s weird, trippy, dreamlike, dark, sad, and funny. Probably a divisive book - I was drawn to the writing and vibes from page one and it only got better from there. If the first third of the book isn’t pulling you in, it might not be for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

katerina_l's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bibliomich's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don't even know where to begin with Bunny. I loved it. It was weird and funny and dark and surprising, and Mona Awad is a brilliant writer. I need to read more of her work.

Sometimes books that satirize the pretentiousness of academia end up coming across as, well, pretentious. But Bunny is funny and unhinged, and it doesn't feel elitist, even though Awad is clearly very clever. I can see why this one wouldn't work for everyone, but I devoured it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying and Toxic relationship

mood_124's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

A hallucegenic fever dream...
Loved every minute of it!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship

whatiskatelynreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

absolutely bizarre - loved

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

erinoconnor's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Oh I loved this. It was twisted. It was surreal. It was weird. I found myself wanting to know more and hoping the protagonist put herself in danger to do so. 😬 Normally I’m like, “no don’t go in there” but this book was so intriguing I kept hoping she’d go where she shouldn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

katelynnelawson's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

Not 100% sure what I just read but I mostly enjoyed it. Themes of the power creativity, the performance of femininity and connection, and the danger of isolation. I didn’t agree with some of the critique of the traditional femininity, but Samantha’s refusal to perform in the final chapter was satisfying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Rape, and Death of parent

pmarra_13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail