Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Eleanor & Park: Exclusive Special Edition by Rainbow Rowell

23 reviews

pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Toxic friendship

lovenecy's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I hated this ending. Implication endings are the worst.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

jennswan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse

carina_dreamer's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Physical abuse, Racism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Even though I really didn’t like how the book ended, there was no other way it could’ve ended, I don’t think. I felt endlessly sorry for Eleanor. She was so relatable and so misunderstood and for Park to be taken from her when he was the only one who truly saw her was so unjust. This book highlights all the ways life is so unfair, especially to kids growing up in situations of poverty. It’s a story of young love, growing up, and overcoming social norms. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

jordan_noel's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• 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

3.75

This is a sweet story of friendship between two sort of outsiders.

The transition from hate to love between the two characters felt kind of sudden, but their friendship was so sweet and pure that I think it makes up for it.

Maybe it's just me, but many parts felt overly, almost sickly sentimental. I felt a lot of dialogue and description of their romantic endeavors was a bit excessive. Still, it was a sweet relationship and I can get over these little flaws.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending.

Spoiler

The characters separate and lose touch, which of course, is normal and fine, but Eleanor began to start acting completely out of character right before this point. She was distant and rude and failed to reach out even with Park's persistent letters. Then at the end, she sends him three words (unknown to us) that somehow make him smile. I don't understand why Park would forgive her after almost a full year of her denying contact. 

I think the relationship was a chance for Eleanor to appreciate herself more, learn and grow, and become independent. And for Park, it was his first, perhaps naïve, experience in love. I do like the complexity in their different interpretations of the relationship.

These characters were likable and the end was fairly realistic. Overall, this is a sweet, hopeful book, especially for teenagers who know just how brutal high school and adolescent life can be.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Spoiler

Eleanor's mom is in a toxic, abusive (physically and emotionally) relationship. Her husband has forces Eleanor out of the house twice. Eleanor's mom does not stick up for her daughter (or the other 4 children). People at school, as well as the husband, intensely body-shame Eleanor.

lindsayrae114's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

A lot of these reviews were really negative regarding your Eleanor treats/speaks to Park, or frustration in the lack of communication on E's end. I fully disagree. Rainbow wrote this book with a heart for a girl living in and through trauma. Eleanor's voice is accurate and tragic. I fully related to her journey.

Possible spoiler-related content below.....

I grew up in an abusive home. I was not conventionally pretty. I spent every day of my life trying to disappear and stand out at the same time. Be the good student so teachers were never worried about me. Don't get the attention of boys. Then one noticed despite my efforts. It was a full time job to fall in love and keep myself and the relationship safe at the same time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Bullying

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Homophobia

honeyy_menu's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-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

5.0

i just reread this book for the first time since like 2014, and i loved it just as much as i did then. i love eleanor. i love park. i love this book so much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship

l_myers's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.75

I have read this book more than a couple of times and I still love it. I would suggest reading the trigger warnings, but overall a very cute teen romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual harassment

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analea_lucille's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, and Alcoholism