Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

19 reviews

c0d3nam3qt's review

2.0

This is the second Lisa Jewell book that I have read. (The first being “None of this is true”) If I hadn’t bought this one years ago, I don’t think I ever would have read another from her. After reading this one, I can confidently say, this one is my last. 

I really dislike the marketing of these two books. They don’t lead on to the type of content within and I think it is inappropriate to not make the reader at least somewhat aware. These two books deal with very dark and disturbing content. From looking into this author’s backlist, it seems that the majority deal with the same few incredibly dark and triggering subjects, but no where is it warned. The front of this book has this kitschy whimsical drawn map, but there is no whimsy here. 

Following spoilers also spoil “None of this is true”.

There are so many parallels between this story and “None of this is true”. Both have men that are objectively bad people, that don’t get even a slap on the wrist for their abhorrent behaviour. Or other characters try their absolute hardest to defend those men’s actions. The whole time you are supposed to think it is one of these awful men that did yet another awful thing, but sike it’s actually a female victim(s) turned evil/crazy/violent. Everyone who could have stopped it or could prevent something else from happening, just makes excuses and basically says it’s none of their business. Or even goes so far as to destroy evidence. There is no justice for anyone in either novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Medical content

kt314's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

madisonrose1519's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Fast paced. Kept my attention, particularly after a really tough-to-beat reading slump. 

Likeable characters. Weird to read a book from the perspective of so many young teens now that I’m an adult. But it was done very well. The perspective shifts were exceptionally written. Pip’s point of view sounded exactly like my own early teen diary entries. Skillful writing for sure. 

I wasn’t blown away by the ending. The “red herrings” referred to by some reviews were quite obvious to me. I was not particularly shocked by the whodunnit. I would say the ending was satisfying and everything was tied up into a neat little bow. Personally, I like to be left a little mind-blown and frustrated by the ending of a mystery, but I can’t say I hated this ending. It just felt a smidge lackluster. 

Overall glad I read it, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to a friend unless I was asked about it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Sexual assault, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

ashleysager's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

gcolston1832's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

caltree's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use and Violence

jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

butilikeit's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Medical content, and Abandonment

ariel_marie's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a suspense/thriller, let alone Lisa Jewell. I’ve always loved this author but this story was not one of my favorites. The characters were well developed but the excitement/thrill of the story was quite low. I did really enjoy all the background information provided on the characters and how it allowed for multiple people to be side-eyed. I enjoyed the ending - which is all I will say otherwise I will spoil it. If you’re going to check out Lisa Jewell, don’t start with this book! This story does not do her justice.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Abandonment