Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

7 reviews

kaywhiteley's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

This book really took the southern gothic vibe and ran with it. It gave me the same sort of thrill and chills as the classic southern gothic stories I read in AP English class. But, Mandelo also acknowledges the nastiness of southern history and has it contribute to the horror of the whole story which I think puts a delightful spin on the southern gothic theme. Plus, I love when racists and elitists get what they deserve and are seen as the ugly monsters they are. 

Truly I was unsure about this book for a long time. The first 300 pages felt like the slowest burn mystery with also the slowest burn queer romance you have ever seen. Truly the sexual tension combined with the denials of being queer was so infuriating. I also truly did not understand what was going on for a long time. That plus the street racing made me wonder if this book was for me.

That being said, I’m glad I held on. As slow as the first part of the book was, the second part was quick paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I think that the slow burn actually enhanced the pace at the end and made it all the more satisfying.

I liked how messy Andrew’s investigation was because, let’s all be honest with ourselves, we would not be that much better when trying to break a curse while being haunted by the ghoul of our best friend. I also just loved the messiness of Andrew’s (and really everyone’s) character in general. He was so so fucked up throughout the book but I couldn’t help but root for him and his happiness.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gore, and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Self harm

Minor: Domestic abuse and Vomit

onehtl1ama's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Transphobia

introverted_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

5.0

babe wake up and smell the petrol.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Religious bigotry and Fire/Fire injury

zghutcheson01's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.75

I really loved this book. It took me about 30 pages to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down. Without spoilers, I do enjoy how this book came to a satisfying ending without frantically rushing to resolve all of the character issues. It let the book feel like a peek into someone's life and you know things are going to change but that the hardest part is over. The nurder mystery part isn't super compelling but I honestly think that's not the main point of the book which is the character development and exploration of the supernatural which it does really well.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Domestic abuse and Transphobia

remimicha'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
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Racism, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism

ritapisk's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense

5.0

genuinely cannot comprehend what I just read without going feral but it sure was paranormal and homosexual. 10000 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia

booksthatburn's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

SUMMER SONS is a long exhalation after a reckless sprint, a tale of grief and queer masculinity as Andrew slowly wrestles with who his best friend was to him, and the betrayal he feels at finding out after Eddie’s death that other people knew different sides. Andrew begins by resenting every new thing he finds, every way that Eddie was someone else with someone else, and disturbed that these other people would have any interest in knowing him too. As he slowly works his way through his resentment and grief (with the help of an occasional punch to jolt him out of his own ass), Andrew gets closer to the car-racing, hot, young men who filled Eddie’s nights, circling warily around the academics of Ahis days who seem hell-bent on making Andrew pick up where Eddie left off. The problem is that Andrew doesn’t know who he and Eddie were, and the achingly slow process of figuring out what that was is being complicated by the way Eddie’s haunt keeps filling Andrew’s throat with earth, loam, dirt, and death whenever he has a moment alone. 

The characterization is complex and well-executed, generally following Andrew’s understanding of the people around him. As he’s able to observe more from behind the veil of his grief, they, too, come into focus. It's a story of queer masculinity, including the difficult tangle of emotions which can make embracing one's queerness without giving up masculinity in the context of a rural Southern existence. 

This is beautiful and ultimately satisfying, unafraid to fill itself up with jagged pieces and look you in the eye as it names the broken bits one by one in their slow exhumation from Andrew’s soul. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gore, Racism, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse and Transphobia