Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

El juego de los deseos by Leire García-Pascual Cuartango, Meg Shaffer

75 reviews

chartle's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

bluz19's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.5

This book by far gives “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” vibes! I think this book has a very whimsical feel to it and falls under the themes of quirky, puzzle, and an underdog story. Basically Lucy, a woman very down on her luck and with childhood trauma, has grow up and meets a kid that she knows she could give her love to but all that’s missing is the money to take care of him. She is given that opportunity when Masterson invites her to his island for a contest that if she wins she can sell the book and finally be able to adopt the sweetest and brightest boy Christopher. I liked the premise of the story, it was something that was a quick read and easy to absorb and fly through. There were some deep themes that this book tackled like child abandonment, feeling unwanted, running away, and the foster system, but there are lighter ones too. I don’t think this book was meant to be a lot of twists and turns, just a nice story about how we bring bad things from our childhood but also some good things that help us become who we are and who we’re meant to be. I think this book was very healing as well, it made me think back to the books that I read as a kid that fully changed me. i loved how this book shows that even adults get scared and have problems, and want to believe in magic. This book helps them to face their fears and see that there can be a light at the ned of the tunnel. 

There were points in the story that I felt were unnecessary and forced but because of all the points I did love, I was able to overlook some of the not so wonderful parts. I think this would make a very relaxing read, there’s no real twists, no violence, no horror, just feel good vibes. The story is ultimately about a love and appreciation for books and their ties on people. The character have their downfalls, especially impulsive and stressful Lucy, but only because she wants to offer what she never had, love. I’ve read a lot of reviews of people who didn’t like the book simply because of the relationship that Lucy builds with Christopher but we also must acknowledge this this book is supposed to be the best case scenario of what is horrible circumstances. 

 

I think if you enjoyed Willy Wonka, are looking for a more lighthearted story break, or you just love books, riddles, and writing then you would enjoy this story. I think I was pleasantly surprised with what I actually read because I didnt have high hopes for this book. It quickly brought me in and I flew through the book even if I could mostly tell the ending. This book made me want to live on Clock Island too!

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

haileyhardcover's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

The Wishing Game is perfection. A perfect blend of heartbreak and hope, wit and whimsy. I laughed, I cried. I raced to solve riddles and braved my own fears. I had so much fun on Clock Island.

I love stories that make you fall even more in love with stories. Books have been such an important part of my life, and I love when authors not only acknowledge what books mean to us, but write whole new stories just to honor and celebrate them! Who would we be without the books we’ve loved? I don’t care to know the answer. 

The Wishing Game is like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory but for adults whose inner child is ready to come out.  For a book set in the “real world” without any actual magic, it felt like I was reading a fantasy. Clock Island truly felt magical and is certainly a place where wishes do come true if you’re brave enough to ask. 

I connected to this story personally on so many levels. You know a book was meant to find you when, halfway through, you’re already thinking about getting quotes and images tattooed on your body forever, because having them branded into your heart just isn’t enough.

The Wishing Game is perfectly paced and easy to binge-read if that’s your thing. It’s a quick read at just under 300 pages. Most of the chapters are quite short and even the longer ones move quickly enough that you don’t notice the difference. If you appreciate a good floppy paperback like I do, the publisher nailed this one - so easy to break in and then lays flat like a dream even from the first page! Also the cover?! Stunning! No notes.

In short, I highly, highly recommend The Wishing Game. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Outing

apandabearcub's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

sydneylmeyer7's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mhilt17's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

fleur____'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

ebeubanks8's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

it was a cute read. not a great read but a good one. i found the fmc's family issues to be kind of dramatic. like i get she was upset with her sister but they were both kids, of course its gonna change when you grow up and realize what was actually going on. she also was strangely attached to christopher and that could be read into creepy, but i didnt think so. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage

kaylokay_'s review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

lizzymorang's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

2.5

I did find myself wanting to return to this story and it's quite an easy read, but there are just so many issues that weren't handled well. Almost every relationship dynamic in this book is weird and even inappropriate in some cases.

I was hoping the protagonist would see how wrong she was by the end and become redeemable, but this just seems like wish fulfillment for selfish, naive people. Not for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault