Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Valley of the Dolls 50th Anniversary Edition by Jacqueline Susann

60 reviews

jennifercoolidgelvr's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was everything I wanted Black Swans by Eve Babitz to be. The story follows three main women and their downfalls as they each transform into the person they swore they would never be due to men, addiction, and greed. This is not a particularly moving or deep novel, but it kept my attention and I found it enjoyable to read. I enjoyed reading about the lives of the three young women in glamorous locations and the psychological toll explored when one tries to navigate the entertainment industry and the world of the wealthy. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Violence, Car accident, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Antisemitism

moonwillow27458's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting

jupen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse

chumbuswumbus's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Abortion

vleighp's review against another edition

emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

i thought this was gonna be sad but be a girly wow women friendships are so powerful!!! it was not and i am sad sad as hell!! very good read though

haileyeh's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, and Abortion

bmpicc's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-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? Yes

2.0

Absolute trash. If it was non-fiction it'd be titled 'How to be a Monster Friend'. I disliked all the characters... perhaps that was the point(?). I had to keep reminding myself when it was published too. The excessive use of the word "fag" and criticisms of women being "fat" was making me internally scream. 

This is listed as a cult classic and was on my TBR for a long time. I'm sad to say that I was disappointed. I think it is the fact that none of the characters grew or learned. They were the same people at the end as they were at the beginning, just fueled by little colored dolls. It was all tell, no show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Abortion

gabriella_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense

• 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? Yes

4.5

this book is going to haunt me, i know it. parts of the book are tough to swallow (esp the fatphobia/body shaming, ableism, and homophobia) but if you can power through, it’s so worth it. idk if this is a hot take but i think it has a similar message to the barbie movie but it does it better

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

subtlymelancholy's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

It's a slow start but if you really like Old Hollywood (before the collapse of the studio system, so like 1940s-60s) once you start it's REALLY difficult to put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

There are a lot of seriously triggering topics covered in this book and it's not really something that can easily be skipped over. It's also a combination of the characters' internalized feelings and the result of the time and place the book was written.