Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Infamous by Lex Croucher

31 reviews

lazers28's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

"Book Smart meets Bridgerton" the cover says. Hardly.

I went into this book expecting a fun, queer,  friends to lovers romance with a background of bohemian regency artists. Instead I spent 50% of this book mad at the male love interest for being scummy in about every way imaginable and 40% mad at the female main character for just sort of letting him get away with

being a liar, cheat, thief, drunkard, would-be rapist, and MURDERER(?) who never gets any real come-uppance.

I wish I would have given up on this book, but kept hoping it would get better, that the queer friends romance would finally become the main focus but it constantly got sidetracked by this asshole dude. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

evakonic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Slavery, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Cursing, Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

chr_luisa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring relaxing sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Classism

autumnnook's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

emilo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing slow-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

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Racism

humblebookdragon's review against another edition

lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Because both Eddie and Nash were so UNLIKABLE, especially for the entire duration of the novel, it was really a feat to finish this book. The only thing that kept me going was that Lex Croucher wrote Rose as the voice of reason, and perhaps the voice of the audience, so the self-awareness of how Eddie and Nash were was appreciated, but it was still a rough one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Colonisation and Classism

anastasia_raf's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

3.0

I just finished infamous and I feel that I should maybe sleep on it before writing anything but also know that I need to write this review while I'm still being haunted by its pages.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes and no. Honestly being described as a queer romance feels a bit misleading? 
It is queer and it has a little romance but it's also heavy. It explores women's stance in society, it LIGHTLY refers to colonialism and racism. It also refers to toxic masculinity, patriarchy, and the predatory "nature" of white cis men. Was all of it perfectly executed? No. But the message was delivered.
It felt a bit triggering for me reading a book where I could see myself- a young woman being misled and manipulated by a man. A queer person struggling to accept herself. I have read books that were more triggering and difficult but somehow with this book I felt like I was reliving the most ugly and hurtful moments of my life. Nash reminded me too much of someone dangerous and scary and I felt sickened by his appearance in the book. I didn't know it was going to be heavy (personally speaking always,) going into it but please be careful if you get triggered by such themes as well.

The writing was solid. The protagonists felt real enough. The side characters weren't explored as much as I wish they were. There was such chemistry between Rose and Eddie, I loved it. Would I have given Eddie as many chances as Rose gave her? Probably not, probably yes.
Do I believe Eddie is spoiled, single-minded, selfish and thoughtless towards the feelings of others? Yes. Do I believe she has the potential of growth? Also yes.
I truly liked Rose. I know she has spunk and I wanted to see more of it. Nonetheless she was an absolute delight.

I loved Dayo, Albert and occasionally Valentine, but as I said, they weren't greatly explored and their presence seemed "out of necessity" than actual contribution to the story.

The best way I can describe it, is as a semi-biography of an author. Of Eddie.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Colonisation, and Classism

patricktreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I was very excited bout this work because I had recently read a lot of period romance pieces. However, something about the vibes in this book just felt off. I did think the writing was well done, but I genuinely hated many of the characters, one of which being a main character. 

I feel like if a few of the romance elements had been changed, it plus have been a lot better for my vibes. 

Even with that I think the narrator did an absolutely amazing job in the performance of the work. All of the voices were uniquely done, an the dramatization was superb. 

In the end I gave this a 3 stars, and I would like to thank NetGalley n the publisher for this audio arc

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

jodiexmae's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

lexnicole's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

4.5

I really hate Nash Nicholson 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Colonisation