Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

26 reviews

tdhuck's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cursing, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship

katycanum's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was the first book I finished in 24 hours in years. I am not sure if it was the writing style, or just the story. This is a book that needs to start being shared in schools, in communities. it captures it perfectly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

kemitchell217's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.5

this book is so heart wrenching and sad, but so relatable if you have been through something terrible like edith went through. i listened to it as an audiobook so i didn't see the writing style, but it was very easy to listen to and understand. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

brestevens's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Toxic friendship

skellybrianna's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Rape, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cursing

bookowl88's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

I think this book will hit close to home for many and I appreciate the author helping to bringing awareness to the trauma that rape is and how deeply, emotionally and physically it can impact victims.  I found the main characters actions to be frustrating, more specifically the way she treated the people who cared about her but that’s the complicated thing about a person who is suffering alone.  And I’m glad that in the end it doesn’t turn out to be a guy who swoops in and saves her because a woman finding her own voice and standing on her own to be far more empowering than challenges only being solved with the help of a Prince Charming character.  While support is necessary I’m glad that’s not what it became about.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape

hannaheatsbooks's review

emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship

savr3485's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

I will never find a book as good as this one! I’m waiting on book #2 now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Drug use, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Self harm, Bullying, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

You will want to read the next book after that ending!

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

1.75

1.5 stars

why is nobody talking about how discouraging this book is? there is no hope for survivors. even towards the end, when the author says there's this glimmer of hope, there really isn't. eden's bridges are burned, her reputation is marked, there is no trustworthy adult that we know of to carry her through her healing journey, and we certainly don't see an epilogue where she is making progress. justice may or may not come, and every person that eden does confide in is completely toxic. that police interview at the end? GROSS. but the author seems to think it was okay! and don't even get me started on eden's brother. and josh. oh boy. way to make it about you, dude - while cheating on your girlfriend as well?!!?! this book is trauma porn, full of a wild series of harmful events rooted in an exaggerated slut-shaming culture, with absolutely nobody to pull eden, a teenage girl, from rock bottom.

if i were a young girl considering whether to come forward with a crime committed against me, this would certainly deter me from telling anybody. there are no adults you can trust. young girls deserve better than this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

kotashomelibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, and Incest