Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Marlena by Julie Buntin

15 reviews

jayla_hh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual assault

judah_g's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse

micklesreads's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

A deep dive into loss and girlhood and how well we can really know the people we love. Devastating and raw and gorgeously written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol

etbliss's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

marlena :(

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual violence

morepeachyogurt's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

writing is fantastic, plot starts to drag a little bit but still very good!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content

cheye13's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

The writing style and voice is excellent, but it ultimately boils down to another story of cyclic poverty cultivating cyclic depression

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, and Self harm

brief description of sexual harassment from a teacher; incest only vaguely implied in one instance; majority of the child abuse is neglect

jonsnowsmanbun's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

„The world doesn’t care that you‘re just a girl.“

luizamjc's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.5

I can see how many think this book is slow, I think maybe it's because it’s very heavily character driven and not plot driven, which can be boring for some people. You have to really connect to the characters to enjoy it. Personally, I have, and I found this one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. The ending truly brought me to tears. It is such a beautiful take on loss, grief, friendship and addiction, but also brings a deep reflection on life in general, the search for happiness, and how we can change our own futures.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

christyco125's review

challenging emotional medium-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

4.75

Marlena was absolutely haunting. I grew up with girls like that. I also didn't have the perspective to understand fully what was going on then. This story totally exceeded my expectations.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

christinavasiliou's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm