Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

4 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Confused about why this book’s average rating is so low. I am generally the harder critic than most, most of the time. This time, I find myself on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe I find this book too relevant in today’s political times. Maybe I’m more of a feminist than most people. Maybe it’s been a while since I read a book that I really enjoyed. Regardless, I’m sticking with my five.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

_meganno's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder

kaiyakaiyo's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

2.0

honestly this was a lot of anxiety-inducing ramp up for very little payoff. maybe it’s because it’s 4 am and I’m too tired to be surprised but like… nothing about that ending was shocking or exciting. 

that being said i really liked the journey. this book is a lesson in how a normal life can take a couple of turns into Uber-weird and horrifying, and how close and familiar those creepy pro-choice conservatives really are at all times. people like that tend to feel mythical and easy to write off as bible thumpers harassing people outside of PP, but realistically those people are all around us & hidden amongst seemingly sane individuals. spooky and tummy-upsetting. Jacy made a lot of really wild choices but almost all of them stemmed from a need for companionship; a pretty universal feeling that got her into a world of trouble.

also: this book felt like it was ramping up to some sort of supernatural point so I was a bit let down there too. what the fuck was up with the pasties

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Abortion

dfrancis's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

I enjoyed the book but I feel like the ending left a little to be desired. The book really plays on fears about bodily autonomy, misogyny, and reproductive justice, which all feels very relevant. It definitely had the creeping suspense of a gothic but I feel like the ending happened too quickly and was just a little lackluster and unclear. I’ve seen some people say the writing felt disjointed and didn’t flow well but i didn’t find that to be an issue, but I was listening to the audiobook and maybe it comes off better through that. Overall, decent read but not my fave

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Death of parent