Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Girl Friends by Holly Bourne

11 reviews

nadiaherondale's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I forgot to write a review so I had to do a quick reread. The best thing about this book is exactly how good it is at portraying a toxic female friendship, the competition, the need, the love it's all there. I've been there, I've been both sides. You fall apart and then you both found yourselves again and sometimes it works, sometimes you remember why you fell apart. This book portrays it so well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Alcohol, Sexism, Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Rape

poetrydragon's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

helloits_jen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-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: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Bullying

stitchbooks22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, and Medical content

v1l25's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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: Bullying, Blood, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

jude7's review against another edition

emotional

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was really emotional and heavy at times but was really good regardless. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Body shaming, Grief, Rape, Sexism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Minor: Stalking, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders

ccassidy98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Grief, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Miscarriage

annabelreadsandwrites's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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: Mental illness and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Blood, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Classism

eepemma's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Mental illness, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Minor: Toxic friendship and Miscarriage

ramalam98's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• 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

Holly is fast becoming my favourite author for ‘feminist’ contemporary fiction. I also loved Pretending and really want to read her other adult book (I think it’s How Do You Like Me Now?). 

Girl Friends follows two timelines of friendship, conflict, mental health and society. We get a view into the culture of being a teenager in the early 2000’s (about a decade before my time as a ‘98 baby), with some intense scenes highlighting how normalised sexual assault and coercion was for teenage girls. Contrast this with the modern day where we see the effects of exposure to this in the main character (who is also struggling with feelings over never been ‘chosen’ by one of those boys anyway). She is trying to be a ‘good’ feminist and mental health professional while also struggling with internalised feelings of competition with other women as a result of her teenage years. 

It has a lot of themes in common with Pretending, particularly with the same message of other women not being our enemy or competition. 

The writing style is very engaging, combining hard scenes with sometimes amusing internal dialogue. Holly has an amazing way of writing the most relatable female characters and you feel like she can see into your head. 

The only part of this I wasn’t keen on is that

I feel like Jessica’s habit of stealing boyfriends was a bit too exaggerated to then just be blamed on the culture and sexual coercion she grew up with.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Self harm, Sexism, Drug use, Hate crime, and Misogyny