Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

31 reviews

sarah_amy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book both had and broke my heart. I cared so much about Rill/May, her siblings and all the other children, and Avery's investigation among it all. I went in completely blind with this book, so was floored to know this is based on real events and that Georgia Tann was the person behind all the horror. I was less interested in the political side of it all and the romance felt a bit forced (not a bad match, just unnecessary). It would have been a 5 star on the investigation and flashbacks to Rill/May's past alone, but the politics/romance almost felt like I was being interrupted by a side story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Based on the child trafficking/illegal adoption agency of Georgia Tann. Lots of details of abuse and allusions to death that went on in the foster homes involved. Many of these children were adopted out illegally and without the consent of the birth parents - some were outright stolen like in this story.

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

wifeslife's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

em_simar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

rhaselpaq's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Kidnapping, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Trafficking

trinloyd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense 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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated. It is heartbreaking and gut wrenching, and so well written. The author did a beautiful job telling this story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

holliebye's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Dementia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Cancer

xxjenadanxx's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Kidnapping

Minor: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Dementia, Trafficking, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

amberlinanderson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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 book will make you experience every emotion: love, sadness, fear, disgust, happiness, anger, hope. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I’m too young to have ever heard of this real life scandal. I loved this story so much, but it also broke my heart. I definitely recommend giving this a read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Infertility and Rape

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

jmarierva's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Kidnapping