Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

18 reviews

smileysam's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

I have a hard time picking a star rating for the book. I really enjoy Lucinda Berry’s writing and have a hard time putting her books down, and this was no exception. Her books often feel more realistic than a lot of thrillers which makes them all the more gut-wrenching. That being said, I had a lot of conflict with Adrianne as our narrator because I often did not agree with her. The book felt like it wanted to lead the reader to sympathize with her. I know that they say a Mother’s love is unconditional, but I myself could not love a pedophile, no matter the relation. Parts that felt even more lost on me were when it was clear I was supposed to sympathize with Noah. I didn’t. I still don’t.

It bothered me that Adrianne couldn’t believe her son, a sexual abuser, could in turn, be sexually abused. The irony here was not lost on me, though. And I found myself wondering if Berry’s goal was for me to sympathize with Adrianne here, or if her goal was to see the juxtaposition of events.  Honestly, jumping back to Noah, his understanding of his actions being wrong but himself and other characters in the book viewing that as “just how he was born” and “something he can’t control” felt abhorrent. I also had wondered about Lucas - at first, I fully agreed with him, but the more chapters I read from the unnamed man, I grew suspicious. I expected the twist to be that it wasn’t Noah, especially given the mention of electroshock therapy.

All in all, I enjoyed this book but at the same time, I didn’t, if that makes sense. I think it’s a good read and worth the read, though. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

readliketay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Went in blind. Was not what I was expecting. But I love books that make me think. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Hate crime, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

sweetiepie621's review against another edition

reflective tense fast-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

This book was stunning. It warps your feelings in some twists and turns. I loved this book and from page 50 on I was glued. The only criticism I have is in the beginning I was finding the main narration annoying and almost "please pity me" sort of tone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

corywbowers's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

kiddocut's review against another edition

challenging 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book is not for everyone. Don’t go into it thinking there is a big twist once you read what the subject matter is-there is no twist.  That’s the point.

It’s one of the most challenging and upsetting things I’ve ever listened to and if you skip bits I don’t blame you-I had to skip some final chapters to “finish” this book. <specifically those associated with assisted suicide>

I think it takes great skill to write about this subject matter in a humanizing light without excusing the actions of the MC’s son. 

The point of the book is seeing her do everything she thinks she can to save her son from his own urges-even denying the truth or hoping it’s a mistake…and how that rips her family apart.  And yeah the MC does stupid and dangerously risky things to do that-but I can’t help but understand how hard it must be with the association of someone like her son. 

I think this book does a good job with the ripples of victimhood that the actions of the MC’s son actually does. That it affects every family member and how it affects them. And I think we forget that aspect of these kinds of crimes. 

If you can stomach it, (again, it’s not for the faint of heart) the change of perspective is interesting in and of itself.  

And as much as I like that, I do wish there was like a blurb or something about the research in this book-especially when it comes to the profiling efforts. It’s well researched but i still felt left hanging. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Don’t go into this thinking there is a twist like I did-I was mislead by a friend suggestion, there *is* a slight one, but it’s so minuscule and misleading that it’s a pseudo twist that has no affect on the MC or her son.

jonesin4books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This one is going to stick with me. As an SA survivor, this is triggering, no doubt. But what shook me to my core is the experience of Adrianne. As a mother myself, I cried at several points in the book and would stop reading, stare at the wall, and process. Lucinda did such an incredible job evoking a mother's inner dialog, emotion, and pain. I felt what Adrianne was feeling every step of the way, as a mother in her position. 
I figured out the twist midway, but it does not negate my review. 
The writing is superb. So excuse me while I binge read all of her work....

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment

krimor's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

morgansb's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

This was in incredibly  challenging and difficult read. This family dynamic was truly unsettling, and watching how they're reckoning with this traumatizing and life altering revelation. The ending fell very flat, and I didn't enjoy the sort of "gotcha" at the end. The characterization of the mother was the best to me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Heavy trigger warnings on this one, features lots of themes about harm and exploitation of minors.