Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

5 reviews

kit_kat006's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Racism, Self harm, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Lesbophobia

Minor: Infidelity

wackzo's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

honben's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I'm a big fan of the show (completely aware that it is mostly garbage) and I wanted to give the books a shot and I am shockingly pleased. This book contains only what happens in episode 1 of the show (just a heads up) and when I realised I was thrilled. It gives you much more insight on the characters, and there are major differences with the show but I actually feel like I will like the books better (specially in the romance department) and though the writing style is very simplistic it makes it much easier to read.
Already started the second one.
P.S.: there is depiction of mental health struggles and there are moments when even the narrator is fatphobic, I remember a specific line from one of the last chapters. I attribute this to the year it was published, but obviously, it is not nice to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Car accident, and Murder

Slut Shaming isn't on the list of trigger warnings, but there is a ton of it on this book.

fanboyriot's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Read For

✓ Nostalgia

✓ Secrets and Lies
✓ Small Town Vibes 

✓ High School Drama

✓ Best Friend Murdered

˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗

I love and hate this series so much.  The nostalgic vibes this book has is far too comforting to just read once.  The mystery of “Alison’s” death is dragged out but in this book things are focused on setting up the world and the gossip of a small town.  Rosewood is a place where the kids act like adults and the adults act like teenagers.

This is the book where everything—for basically everyone—goes downhill.  Relationships are broken and found—both friend wise and romantic, everything is upped in the dramatics taking simple things and making them a big deal.  In a way it’s like a lighthearted mystery; then again it could be just because it’s a nostalgic read, however, it reminds me of a cozy mystery.  It told the backstory, and how Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily all went on to live their lives after their best friend’s disappearance.  But secrets only stay buried for so long and A lives for drama. 

Spice Level: n/a

Angst Level: 💧💧💧

POV: Multiple, Third Person

Release Date: 06, October 2006

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol

abbiesb_read's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.25

I was feeling nostalgic and decided to read this. The characters in this book are infuriating. Will I read the next book? Probably.

This book is very neck and neck with the show so if you were a fan of the show then I would recommend this. However, I will say that there are A LOT of outdated mentions in this and some painfully and awkwardly  poor choice of dialogue. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting