Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Change by Kirsten Miller

19 reviews

ms_elchert's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Police brutality, Rape, Death, Misogyny, Trafficking, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

kindredspirit7's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

cazastrophe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abandonment, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Rape, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

annabelle's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

A good revenge fantasy with a sprinkle of the supernatural. I enjoyed the story as a whole, though I did see the twist coming. I don’t mind that since it was done well. The plot was interesting and the pacing was good considering the length of the book. It didn’t lag anywhere and the story built up well. The characters were compelling, and I was rooting for them to complete their vengeance. 

While there are some magical realism/supernatural elements, so much of the story is realistic in how adults and the systems we have fail vulnerable women. I appreciated how that was a focus of the story and the book stressed how these girls deserve respect. It was definitely a violent book, yet not overindulgent in describing the graphic details of the horrors these young girls experienced which I appreciated.

Some moments did get a little girlboss-y feminism at times, but I don’t think it was too bad overall. I appreciate some unapologetically angry women enacting revenge. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

chb's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Drug use, Trafficking, and Sexual assault

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious tense 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? No

5.0

He’d fucked with the wrong female, and he’d think twice before he messed with a woman again.

This book was sooooooooo good. Its numerous pages (almost 500! 🥵) included elements of several different genres, and I did not find myself bored even once! Three women unexpectedly become friends and discover that menopause has lovingly provided them each with special powers: intuition 🔮, advantageous rage 🔥, and a knack for all things green 🌿. When their powers guide them to a lone trash bag, tied with a fancy bow and containing the body of a young girl, the women begin to investigate… and they will stop at nothing to find who is responsible. Miller gracefully tackled sexual harassment and abuse, shitty menstruation cycles, and chauvinism, to name a few topics. Even though I guessed one of the big twists near the end of the book, I was STILL blown away. Now that’s some good writing. I’m very curious to see how the television series will come together. I will be recommending this book to all of the strong women in my life!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, and Child death

Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, and Drug use

anyareads's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Trafficking, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

I was very confused about the time line in this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Classism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

First read of 2023 started off with a bang! I absolutely adored this feminist, witchy read. With multiple POVs, but mostly focused on Nessa, Harriet & Jo, I loved to hear their life experiences and yow they got to where they are now. The strength, power and pursuit of justice, a world where all women and girls can be safe  was so beautifully crafted and inspiring, I just I did not want to put this book down. Plus, January LaVoy was incredible as a narrator. She has such a talent for distinguishing voices for each character in a way that is so immersive—my favourite narrator to date! I can’t recommend this magical realism revenge thriller enough & I really hope a sequel is in the works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Classism, Suicide, Rape, Misogyny, Trafficking, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent

I

ida's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The seer. The protector. The punisher.
Nessa, Jo and Harriett. 

When three women discover the body of a young girl, they start out on a journey to uncover and unravel the insidious network of abuse that has been going on in their community for decades.

This book is magical realism mixed with furious feminism and I loved it. I immediately bought into the whole idea of some women having magical powers and I loved how differently it manifested in the three women. 

At times, the pace seemed too slow, and I could have been without some of the background stories of minor characters, although I do think they give a lot of depth to the story. In fact, the flashback chapters were my main gripe with this book - I often spent the first few sentences being confused as to why characters were suddenly in different locations, before realising it was a flashback, so I would have loved some an indication of that in the chapter headings. I listened to the audiobook, so I don't know if there was a visual clue in the printed copy.

The plot is absolutely believable; powerful men doing what they want because no one stops them, and the many instances of bias and outright misogyny is straight out of the real world. 

Nessa, Jo and Harriett were all amazing characters, but my favorite by far was Harriett. She had a quiet menace about her, and no qualms about meting out punishment. 

I also liked how, towards the end, a lot of hints were dropped, just enough to keep you on your toes, and although could tell where the story was going, it was a joy to be confirmed in my hunches, definitely foreshadowing done right! And there was a twist I didn't see coming, much like the characters themselves. 

All in all a really great book, but tw for sexual abuse, violence against women, and graphic violence to name a few. It will make you sad, it will make you angry, and it will make you want to be as kick ass as Harriett Osbourne.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Drug use, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Sexism

Minor: Car accident