Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

8 reviews

the_library_of_mary's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book. Based on reviews I had seen and reading the synopsis I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't realize how much I would truly love it. I couldn't put it down, having to force myself to stop reading to sleep and go to work haha. 

The general gist is " fairy tale victims go to modern day group therapy".  It centers around 5 women and each chapters is a different person's story. Each of the stories is interesting as they dive into their traumatic pasts that have given them like " true crime notoriety". Because they are all telling their own traumas there are some holes, where clearly they don't want to speak on it or they are defensive or hyper fixating on things. They are their own unreliable narrators for their own stories, its amazing. You are trying to piece things together, wanting more details. But then you kinda feel guilty because one of the main themes of the book is how these traumas get publicized to the masses, and everyone has opinions on your own personal issues. It's no one else's business, nobody is owed anything. 

If you are looking for a book that delves into traumas and how it effects different people and a shorter read, I would highlight recommend. Obviously check trigger warnings before reading. 

The Will / Jack chapters were so weirddddd ( in a good way). The detail about the lotion freaked me out every chapters, there was so much description about it. I knew there was something up with Will, but I didn't put together that he would be Jack until Ashlee's chapter.

Ruby, what a disaster. The language describing her and that she uses is so literally disgusting. The matted, soiled, smelly fur coat is so prominent that you feel like you are smelling it. You feel uncomfortable, which is the point. The destructive behaviors makes you want to give her sympathy, but when someone does she bites back. 

Raina, I couldn't wait for her chapter. I was so interested in why she was there, and especially after you see she was invited as a mistake. The Little Man relationship I didn't see coming and I was so invested. I was eating those pages up, seeing where it was going to go. I felt like Ashlee, who had her mouth open the entire story in shock haha. Raina seemed so tragic and I think being able to tell someone about this loss she suffered gave her some freedom. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Murder

ladyknightkaci's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But some of the characters stories were much better written than others. I think if the pov had stayed with one character, it would’ve been stronger overall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, and Sexual harassment

maddy4prezident's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

I picked up this book on an impulse, not knowing what it was really about other than a vague concept (grown up fairy tale women in group therapy), and I was so pleasantly surprised by the story. The way this story unfolds before the readers eyes is exceptionally compelling and so well done. I adored the commentary on how people view and treat women in this world, and I loved the way that this book incorporated the very literal plots from these fairy tales and applied it to otherwise very grounded characters. This book grapples with the fragility of being a woman while showcasing the power of sisterhood and solidarity. Overall, I really this book, and I would recommend it to any and everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

mynameisrebecca's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

imstephtacular's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This was strange and compelling as hell. The writing is excellent and I was invested in every character’s story

This felt like Final Girl Support Group meets The Lunar Chronicles with a little bit of the Wayward Children series, all stories I’ve enjoyed. 

The ending reveal left me a little underwhelmed, but overall this was powerful and intriguing 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

plumdustsuns's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

maziodynes's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

The only thing I didn't like about this was the sometimes overly flowery/grandoise way that the characters told their stories that veered out of how people typically speak. But rounded up to 5 stars because otherwise I absolutely LOVED THIS!!! it was pretty messy, but in a way I very much appreciated. and I liked the magical realism elements woven into each woman's story. Great stuff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, and Self harm

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pregnancy

jlboro's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-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

4.75

You’re either going to get it and love this book or you’re not going to get it and probably just shake your head. I have a full rainbow of tabs sticking out of this book and I was laughing out loud, almost in tears, and gritting my teeth in frustration…all for this ridiculous cast of characters. The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5 stars is because it is a bit predictable for the twist ending. But what a wonderfully wild, grotesque, and shocking ride it was to get there! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Fatphobia, Torture, and Murder