Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Goodbye Paradise by Sarina Bowen

4 reviews

belle13's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Tropes/Themes: Queer Romance, Deconstructing Faith, Inexperienced MCs, Friends to Lovers, Found Family             
Amount of spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Explicitness: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I find it hard to believe this is one of Sarina’s first books because her writing is just as great as it is now. Sarina’s writing always seems to have this addictive quality to it and I find myself staying up so late just to finish them and this was one was no exception. Josh and Caleb were both immediately lovable and it was also immediately heart breaking. This was a really beautiful journey of experiencing love for the first time, healing from religious trauma, friends who become family and learning to experience the world in a whole new way. 

It was incredibly sweet and I adored all of the supporting characters and the way they formed their own little family. It was wholesome but also very smutty (we love us some smut). I rated it half a star lower because there were some annoying inconsistencies and I did find it a little unbelievable that they were so anti-religion and wanted to leave their cult having spent their entire lives there, known nothing else and they had been so indoctrinated. But also I know nothing about cults so I could be entirely off base. 

I recommend Goodbye Paradise if you’re looking for something wholesome, sweet, a little emotional and packed full of spice.
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faerietrails's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book isn't groundbreaking. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've read several fanfics with approximately the same plot and feel. BUT it had me giggling and kicking my legs like a teenage girl at a slumber party. It is sexy, it is sweet, it is found family, it is religious trauma all wrapped up in a neat little package.
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silver_lining_in_a_book's review

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emotional hopeful relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.25

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tankytoon's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective 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

3.5

It was a difficult book to read through, not because it was bad, but it was heavy and wrought with sadness and reality about people born into a cult.

The struggles of the characters were palpable, especially those of Josh and Miriam. But we can't also discount the effect this has on Caleb. 

Thanks to a few kind-hearted souls, and a bit of perseverance and hardwork, the pair was able to live a life that was meant for them. 


My only problem with this book was that it kind of tried to wrap itself so quickly.

 
Like how Josh forgave Caleb so quickly in the end after he offered to bottom. Didn't seem reasonable to me.

Also how Maggie suffered Postpartum  and Miriam seemed emotionally stable after being raped and suffering domestic violence. The dichotomy between the two sisters wasn't lost on me.


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