Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Darling Venom by Parker S. Huntington

75 reviews

ingridkh's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, and Miscarriage

Minor: Self harm

meowrie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

This was my first Parker S. Huntington book, and I went in blind. This is billed as a romance, and a love story, and I don't really think it's either one. It's hard to describe. Romances have HEA and the character I resonated with most didn't get a HEA. Or did they? Depends on how you feel, I guess. 

I want to make this vague on purpose. Go into this blind so you get the emotions and the full experience. It hits you hard sometimes. I'm not a crier, but if I was, I would probably cry during this book. 

I pretty much liked all the characters. Even Terry. Until about one minute left in the book. That final reveal broke my heart. Kellan really had nobody in his life, did he? 

The narration was flawless. Jacob Morgan was a perfect Kellan. Absolutely perfect. Sebastian York and Ava Erickson are fabulous as well. This all star cast plays these sad, broken characters beautifully. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

syannayon29's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Handled such complex topics with such care and mastery. Wish I could read it for the first time again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

lallagray's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage

Minor: Vomit

sierrainstitches's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I had a hard time with the writing quality/style. But I also cried like 3 times so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Self harm and Sexual content

Minor: Infertility

dlsmk's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

iixxii's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

Genuinely, I feel like the best parts of this book was when it was from the perspective of anyone but the FMC. The FMC comes off to me a little 2D and lacks the emotional baggage that comes from her backstory.

The brother’s POV was a lot more interesting and his character development was truly enjoyable to read where the FMC’s fell flat to me. The dad’s character development was also gratifying but I also loved how the author depicted how broken relationships is hard to fix even if you wanted to change. I wished we could have gotten more POV from them both. 

In the end, the true starring character is Kellan Marchetti. And the name drop was 🥲💔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse

She ends up with the brother of the her friend who suicided (who could have loved her). 🫠🫠

lisa07xie's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-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

This book destroyed me! I have never cried so early in a book or related to a book more! I don't know if this makes sense but this book helped me a lot somehow it was so healing to read and sometimes I broke down and I was really scared that they wouldn't end up together but they did and I loved it! I have never felt something like this after reading a book and I don't know what it is that I feel but omg this book it deserves more fame I LOVE IT!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

_koreen_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book destroys you, it clutches onto your heart and rips it out. Shredding it into millions of  pieces,  only to tape the edges back together by the end .  

Such a heartbreaking, raw, beautiful, love story within another love story. 
I cried three times so be warned lol 

By far one of my favorite reads ❤️  My heart left a piece of itself within this book and I frankly don’t ever want it back . 

5✨❤️😭

Favorite quote : 
“I realized, with depressing clarity, that she wasn’t the venom at all. She was the antidote. But the quantities were all off.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Stalking

gottbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

This book illustrates trauma and mental health. I would liken it to 13 Reasons Why only I think this might be more impactful. Heartbreaking and tear jerking but it helps you feel the loss and the closure the characters are desperate to find. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol