Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

8 reviews

ashleyhart12's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

micaelamariem's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

We all know by now I’m not the biggest thriller fan but I have actually liked a few in the past year! This, unfortunately, was not it. The main thing was I found it so predictable—and I’m normally never right about these things whereas here I called all the twists. Plus there is a lot of SA in the book which I suppose added to it, but it started to get too detailed for me and could be very triggering for other readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

britt_thebookworm's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Grief, and Abandonment

kellyxmac's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I loved this so much literally up until … see spoilers. AM I ALONE??!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

spoiler: HOW DID PARIS / JOEY WAKE UP NEXT TO THE BATHTUB IF ELSIE MURDERED JIMMY?!?

kshertz's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I love a good mystery. I also love when I can call any part of the book. Which in this case was only 1/5 twists. But I’ll take it! It’s a page turner that I couldn’t put down. Definitely worth the read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bkmckown's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Lots of questions throughout the book, events that didn’t line up or cases where you didn’t know who the killer was. It all came together so well. The author really has you rooting for Paris after everything she has been through in her life. The bonus interview with the author at the end said her inspiration for the book was the documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez and I thought that was fascinating. Like the author said, that’s something you watch and it’s so awful, you either say “It’s too much for me” and turn away or you get angry and want to do something about it. I felt the same way. It made me want to advocate for those kids. It was a very thought provoking read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

kenziburke's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment

jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This book has some triggers: child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, rape, violence,
And intergenerational trauma.

The story opens with Paris, the beautiful, yoga instructor, younger wife of a wildly beloved older comedian and former sitcom star who’s making his comeback, in the bathroom, next to her dead husband, covered in his blood and holding the razor that caused his death. It looks very bad for Paris and she’s immediately arrested. 

Two things become immediately clear: (1) Paris didn’t kill Jimmy, and (2) Paris is keeping a pretty big secret. The crux of the story is about Paris’ past. Jimmy’s death quickly takes back seat Paris’ story.

This is a book about overcoming a difficult (which a huge understatement) childhood and reinvention oneself masquerading as murder mystery.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

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