Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

10 reviews

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious 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

4.25

    I truly enjoyed this book! While I didn't enjoy the author book I tried to read by this author, that may have been because I didn't realize it was book two in a series.
   Vera was a great protagonist, her and her newfound family's fumbling was humorous but the book still had serious undertones. It was a good mix of lighthearted & emotional. I laughed and I cried.
   I didn't guess the murderer until Vera figured it out, the author did a good job of disguising them with misdirection.
  My biggest complaint was that the book was a bit longer than I thought it needed. I can't wait for their next adventure!

Narrator Rating: 4.75 stars
  The narrator did an amazing job, I wish they'd done a full cast for this since it was told from many points of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Dementia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Classism

The instances of child abuse were emotional abuse of a toddler. Nothing physically or sexually abusive towards a child is mentioned.

theliteraryteapot's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I tried the mystery/crime genre, a cosy one, and was not disappointed! I love tea and books featuring tea. I liked how the author tackled some more serious themes in a little cosy book, such as toxic marriage, parents' expectations and pressure, and motherhood. It was a really fun, and at times, quite emotional read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Gaslighting

abicaro17's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

So cute! I enjoyed this fun little murder mystery. It was funny and an interesting story about found family. I think the dynamic between Vera and the murder suspects was so funny and interesting. My issue with this book is how slow it is. The whole first quarter was so unbelievably boring. Like the murder wasn't even interesting enough to keep me engaged. Also the whole murder wasn't even that good. Like could have gone without that part. It was ok but not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

emilywemily6's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

This book was a fun and quick read, with quirky characters and some humor. I appreciated the wholesome, meaningful moments sprinkled throughout as well as this band of misfits grew individually in their self-esteem and confidence despite the sorry state in which they started at the beginning of the book. However, these characters didn’t really have depth, the mystery was lacking in plot and was predictable (considering there were zero clues) even though the reasoning behind the murder was inconsistent with the characterization throughout the book, and while Vera was funny, I have a hard time not being slightly bothered by silly, willful characters like her who refuse to follow the rules. Also, the two year old acted at least four years old for the majority of the book?? I have a three year old and Emma was adorable yet definitely not only two. Overall, a fun read, though I wouldn’t run to the bookstore to grab another Vera Wong book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism

atamano's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol

laughingrevolution's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Murder

k_readingmorenow's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

3.5

A lighthearted, self-aware cozy mystery centred on the strong-willed, impulsive, and lonely empty-nester Vera Wong. After a man turns up dead in her tea shop and the police rudely refuse to drink her tea or behave like the police on her favourite crime shows, treating the death as as accident, she sets out to solve the 'murder' herself. Along the way she gathers a group of young 'suspects' who she grows to love and care for - even if she thinks the killer must be one of them. The novel is very descriptive about the Chinese food and teas Vera makes. In addition to a compassionate and humorous look at Vera, it delves into the internal struggles of each character coping with their own complex family relationships. 

I found it loses steam around the 3/4 mark and sort of treads water, still trying to focus on atmosphere while not knowing what to do with the plot. The child character who is supposed to be two becomes more of a focus, which I dislike. She is inconsistently precocious, being whatever the plot needs her to be, behaving anywhere from one to ten years old. But the ending is surprising and does tie it all neatly together, which I appreciate in a mystery. All in all, it was an enjoyable light read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse

beckyremillard's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

As lighthearted as a murder mystery can be. Other than the murder part, it’s a story about growth and friendships and a tenacious woman named Vera. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder

heather667's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse and Dementia

gillianengelbrecht's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Gaslighting