erinamerritt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Gore
Minor: Fatphobia
laurag659's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
monloesco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
the plot twist was good and the fact that the narrator was unreliable was really fun for meSpoiler
I would've loved a confrontation with Kathy and GabrielGraphic: Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Infidelity, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault
book_lover3103's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse
aaronreadsatad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Gun violence, Infidelity, Alcohol, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
karen_lo's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Wish it was longer since there were some things unanswered. But so good! Could not predict the end at all.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Abandonment, Blood, and Child abuse
tiffyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Infidelity, Murder, Self harm, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Car accident
yasaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Infidelity, Addiction, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
asipofcozy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I really loved this premise of this women (Alicia) killing her husband and never speaking another word. I enjoyed some of the plot building up to it and weaving in the story of Theo (the psychotherapist). When we were given the diary of Alicia, I devoured those pages. Towards the end I did start to see the story weave together, and I can see why many people enjoy the suspense of this book. And the ending does leave you with that "oh my god" moment. That is, if you don't read spoiler reviews or watch tik Tok videos on it.
Now let's get to the parts I really just do not like.
- None of the characters are lovable/redeemable - especially our main character Theo. A lot of the time I was annoyed with Theo and his internalized monologue. I can't even begin to explain where this dislike comes from. Maybe it was his righteous attitude and how he feels that patient's need to be "saved" and he is the one to do it. Maybe it's because he thinks he is above all and that his feelings are more important than others. Or maybe it's just his smug attitude.
- Every therapist in this book is professionally unqualified - I don't think Michaelides knows much about psychology and/or psychotherapy. As someone that went to school for psychology there was a lot of inaccurate statements given whether it was giving "advice" to the medication suggestions. Once again, this is fiction and I understand that, but it irked me in the wrong way. For example, you don't just decide to lower a dosage for a patient without a lot of consultations and tapering - meaning you do it in very small increments over a period of time. Second, these sessions that Theo has and his clear obsession would not be conducted in any manner. In fact if a board of director saw you becoming obsessed with a patient you would normally be taken off said patient. There was also a lot of "off the books" situations which is very unethical. In fact most of the male doctors would have their licenses stripped if they pulled half that shit in any real clinic.
- How women are viewed - not saying that Michaelides views women in a bad light, but he definitely paints it that way in The Secret Patient. Every single patient in The Grove (mental hospital) are women. Now, if this is mentioned in the book earlier, I missed it. However, it's how the women are treated. Instead of saying these women have mental health issues that they are battling, the male doctors will say they are "crazy" and or "bitches" or "crazy bitches". Even the main female characters Kathy (Theo's wife) and Alicia will call themselves crazy at times. As if as a woman that's all we can be is crazy or bitches. On top of that it's how the male doctors treat the two female doctors. It seems like there is a female board of director but the manager of the grove will consistently talk over her or is okay with going behind her back. Theo will do the same thing with the other female doctors in the book. The females in this book are not taken seriously nor do they get much of a voice. Women are portrayed in the darkest stereotypical light - we are gossipers, liars, crazy, tiresome, disloyal, delusional, vengeful, insecure, and annoying.
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
rachelle_chan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
3.75⭐
Loved it
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Stalking, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Violence