Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

111 reviews

cassiealexandra's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Somehow I missed this classic from the 1930s until now, and I’m so glad I picked it up. The cover of my copy says, “a classic tale of romantic suspense,” and I think that description is fitting. This had the feel of gothic horror but without any supernatural elements. I loved the sinister and severe character of Mrs. Danvers. I liked the way that we watch the narrator (who is never named) come into her own, going from a 21-year-old unable to speak her mind and stand up for herself, constantly feeling herself in the shadow of her new husband’s first wife, into a grown woman in a matter of days. Getting into her psyche and seeing her imagination get the best of her, playing out full conversations and paranoid scenarios was so interesting to me. The phantom, ghost-like presence of Rebecca, the narrator’s predecessor, was haunting as were the grounds, rooms, and items at Manderley. The descriptions of the gardens and ocean were so vivid, it was almost physically cloying at times. Everything had the shadow of Rebecca laced in it, and it was easy to see why the narrator could hardly help but compare herself. Oddly, this large age-gap romance was sweet at times, even though at first the narrator wonders if she serves more as a lap-dog to Maxim than wife. What I like most may have been the structure though because the opening chapters serve as an epilogue. The reverse storytelling made me want to pick the book right up again and reread.

The bottom line: This is the perfect blend of suspense, romance, and classic genres with a deep dive into a narrator’s head, gothic elements, whispers of a mysterious past, and a haunting and beautiful English estate setting.

— NOTES —
Genres: classic, gothic, suspense, romance
POV: 1st-person, singular
Content: death, toxic relationship, ɹǝɔuɐɔ ʻʇsǝɔuᴉ
Romance: kissing only

— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)

Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 4
My Gut Feeling: 5

Total Stars: 4.5 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Incest, Murder, and Toxic relationship

elizabeth_1111's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Infidelity, Cancer, Murder, Incest, Death, and Classism

Minor: Gaslighting

meh697's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

blacksphinx's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Racism, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Gun violence, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Classism, Incest, and Infidelity

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Medical content, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Infertility

sarah_hutchins's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Chronic illness, Suicide, and Cancer

default's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

A beautifully written book with vivid descriptions throughout. Though some of the plot twists are somewhat predictable by today's standards, there's a reason the book is considered a classic. Most, or all, of the characters are deeply flawed in some sense, which, while sometimes making them unlikeable, helps ground the story and immerse the reader. The pace is relatively slow, but the prose more than makes up for it, perfectly building suspense as you progress through the plot. Overall, perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Incest

loudes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Terminal illness, Incest, and Cancer

nothing graphic at all, even

the description of rebecca's murder is not detailed or gore-y

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Classism, Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Dysphoria, Toxic relationship, Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

arayo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Infidelity, and Incest

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, and Dementia

lauramcc7's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Toxic relationship