Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

83 reviews

lindsmann's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Adelaide follows a 20-something American living in London as she navigates life and relationships.
^This is essentially all I knew about this book before going into it. Which, those that have read will know that isn't even the half of it. 

This book gave me maaaajor It Ends With Us vibes, and I don't mean that as a compliment. Adelaide is a perpetual people-pleasing doormat of a person and I found it difficult to continue reading at times. Not because the subject matter itself was difficult but because Adelaide as a character was extremely frustrating. 

Spoiler

I found that the level of devotion and adoration Adelaide had for Rory relative to 1) the affection he ever showed for her and 2) how deep their relationship ever felt was so off balance. I never felt that Rory promised much to her, and it felt like she kept clinging onto the idea of their relationship simply because he was on paper (and especially looks wise) who she saw herself with. 

And that just doesn't cut it for me. It made it feel wholly unbelievable that she would continue to put herself through all of Rory's shitty behavior. And maybe I'm naive or biased in this realm, but that was my perception. 

I also feel like there was not one single chapter where she wasn't either crying or throwing up or both. And I'm just very not into the weak/ needs-a-man-to-swoop-in-and-solve-her-problems FMC trope. 

Some might argue that's not what happens here, but Adelaide works on herself for like......5 pages before she finds Bubs on the apps again. So I think this qualifies.

All of the above being said, I did think the book was technically well written and it kept me engaged the whole time, so that's where the 3.5 rating is coming from.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Sexual assault

samepaige's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

“Adelaide—the girl who felt everything—had to remind herself that it was, in fact, okay to feel. That it was okay to fill her lungs with air, her tank with fuel, her brain with the chemicals it needed. It was okay to go to hell and back, to carry every ounce of light and darkness inside of her. It was okay to love herself fiercely, a little selfishly, and with intention. It was all okay.”

this is not a romance novel. this is a coming-of-age, self-discovery novel that will break your heart. I truly could not put it down. I loved this the same way I loved Ghost by Dolly Alderton - fiercely. 

I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still find myself thinking about Adelaide. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book, like an outsider looking in, “please see Rory for who he is!!”. I would have loved to see more of Adelaide in the aftermath. I want to see what she accomplishes and where she goes.

Adelaide is an incredible debut novel and I can’t wait to read Wheeler’s next book. Her writing style is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed this one, even if it made me cry a lot. 

There’s many content warnings and potiental triggers, so please look at those before reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

maurapartridge's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Terminal illness and Vomit

murve's review

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

TEAM ADELAIDE!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Grief

Moderate: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Chronic illness

e_simas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

this book. was incredible. i teared up multiple times and i finished it in just over a day. i was enveloped with the first 50 pages and then flew through it the next time i had a free min. It really touches  on complex relationships and i felt myself relating a little too much for my own comfort

Spoiler

to know what happens with Rory Later down the line. and his terrible hypocrisy thats birthed from Adelaide’s deep and wholee extendive caring is painful

This book was a 5-star read and its complex and beautiful in all the right ways. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Adelaide attempts suicide in the first chapter and the story goes backwards from that point. but there are graphic depictions of rape and toxic relationship behaviors and abusive tendencies and hypocrisy in the relationships.

hannahda's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness and Emotional abuse

natashadb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I feel so much for Adelaide. Not just about how much I love the book, but about Adelaide as a character. I relate so much to her that it broke my heart reading this. Her compassion and wanting to be there for EVERYONE. Take care of everyone. Fall head first into love. 

I hope that everyone can find their family in friends like Madison, Celeste, and Eloise. That they can find their Bubs in a world full to the brim of Rorys.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, and Emotional abuse

frenandjen's review

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse

mcfay's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

 I'm here crying ugly crying and wondering to say about this book. Quite obviously loved it. I saw myself in Adelaide and was so heartbreaking to realize but cathartic to watch come to a conclusion. Cliche as it sounds things really will be alright and we just need to the light and the dark as they to us. This book is a book for our times and I think can find a bit of themselves in Adelaide as well.
  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

haleysversion's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Grief, and Mental illness