Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

17 reviews

ajclix's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Cancer

Moderate: Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

tillyjournals's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

Spoiler

romances kinda came from nowhere

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Gaslighting

ajourneythroughpages's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

I was quite disappointed by this book, as I loved The Flatshare. The whole premise was unbelievable from the go - two months paid leave for one panic attack? Unlikely. The story was too slow, no actual plot, a lot of significant things for the characters happened off page, there were no real stakes and every little thing got resolved far too easily. I didn't feel like I really knew or connected with the characters. That being said, it was an easy read for a few days, with some enjoyable story points. Overall I do feel that this was a bit of a hit-and-miss. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Death, Deadnaming, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Terminal illness

joppiereading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

A lovely, really well-paced romance that pulls off a convincing enemies to lovers trope without toxicity, includes love at all ages, and has a lovable and rich cast of characters.  It also depicts a broken family following tragedy, including how several family members struggle to heal from it. In the end, it’s a heartwarming read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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? No

3.0

Full review to come.

I had decidedly mixed feelings about The Switch.

The first third of the book was great - it was well-written, the pace was good, and it was funny and heartwarming. It was pretty predictable and cliched, but at that point, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't really care. I thought that the exploration of grief as a theme was well done, especially in how it affects the family members of those who have died - it was very sensitively written. There were also brief references to domestic violence that were also handled well, I thought.

Unfortunately, all of the above was nearly ruined for me by the author using a trope that I really dislike:

Spoiler

the first boyfriend of one of the narrators (Leena) turning out to be a massive two-timing douchebag, so the new love interest can then conveniently swoop in and save the day

. Ugh.  And the fact that

Spoiler

the first boyfriend's redeeming qualities were basically swept aside

. I also disliked that

Spoiler

the new love interest was basically described as being built like a football/rugby/soccer player, and didn't seem to have much personality beyond that. I know that sounds mean, and I'm sorry - but that's how I felt

.

I also disliked how the author had the characters do things that I found ethically questionable, purely to advance the plot.

To sum up: The Switch is a novel that started off well but turned off this reader by using a nasty trope that authors should really stop using.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Racism, and Xenophobia

jodierose14's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Grief

eugbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gaslighting

gracegeeks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i think i need to switch lives with my grandparents

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Lesbophobia

froggybex's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

i cried.

I LOVED THIS. I loved the story and writing styles and how funny it was and the characters. However, I struggled with reading this and it took a while to read. this is mainly bc of simply HOW many named characters there are, I was constantly getting confused and had to keep checking the x-ray on the kindle app. I felt like some of these characters didn’t need to be named but most of them i loved. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity

Moderate: Gaslighting

rather_b_reading's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

Really cute book. Loved the grandmother's storyline way more, but had small town Hallmark feel, but with a lot more depth. Recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

Minor: Gaslighting