Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

382 reviews

nic_na's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse

rly's review against another edition

dark funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infidelity

billiejb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

*terrible timing for me to read this book, left me feeling far too raw and hurt and I cannot tell if I didn’t like it because of my life at present or if it was just too yuck for me even in a good moment. I honestly would not recommend this book to anyone without HUGE warnings. 
*writing was easy to read but not overly descriptive, some moments where she tired and others that she seemed to pass over quickly so a bit inconsistent for me. 
*the fucked up nearness to potential reality was confusing and scary in a good way, could see it being fleshed out a bit into a black mirror type mini series. 
*whilst horrible to read I can tell it is going to be a great book club conversation book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts

ezismythical's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

This is a REALLY rough read. It is definitely worth it, but hard as hell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Colonisation

5erinnicole's review against another edition

dark sad fast-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

3.5

I think I wish this book had more plot. 

It was well written and I cruised through it but it felt a bit more like reading an experimental film than I usually like. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Mental illness

clarissarh's review against another edition

challenging dark funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Pregnancy

bubblybelle's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.25

this book unfortunately just didn’t live up to my expectations. it made a lot of poignant commentary about the way mothers are treated in our society, especially mothers of color; however, the plot really dragged at times. the romance subplot towards the middle there also didn’t really add much for me. overall, this was fine but not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage and Pedophilia

veeglessner's review against another edition

4.0

I loved it, loved reading it without knowing the slightest thing about it except its beautiful cover. I was shocked at times! 

I can imagine future high school students analyzing this super on-the-nose book, which definitely has A Point. Some parts could have been better realized for more impact.

CW: Suicide, mentions of abuse

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

therapywithjess's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Really enjoyed this book. Finished it over 3 days. It didn’t feel like ‘the kind of book you can’t out down’ but it exceeded my expectations. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Sexism

razkat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy