Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Meu ano de descanso e relaxamento by Ottessa Moshfegh

437 reviews

tadiwa_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

In “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” the MCs complex relationships, both with her best friend and toxic ex-boyfriend, create a captivating tapestry of human experience. As she seeks solace in sleep, the toxic dynamics with her ex-boyfriend expose the depths of her vulnerability and lack of self-esteem. Simultaneously, her friendship weaves through the narrative, providing moments of support and contrast to the darker aspects of her life. The author fearlessly explores the intricacies of human connections, making this a riveting journey through pleasure, pain, and self-discovery. 5 stars for its unflinching portrayal of relationships and the quest for healing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

abitdicier's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Suicide, Confinement, Excrement, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cancer

baylee_grace's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Unreliable narrator who isn't really a good person yet you sympathize with her. The descriptions of her thoughts and feelings are extremely raw and honest, you can't help but relate to them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Drug use, Sexual assault, Classism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Body shaming

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion

phantompansy's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Vomit, and Confinement

scarfires's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Eating disorder

Minor: Terminal illness, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

jazzy_g's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

3.0

This book was both unique and bizarre. I had bought it at the airport looking for a light holiday read but instead found it kept me anxious and tense, worried for the wellbeing of the protagonist and in disbelief that someone could survive at length the absurd cocktail of prescription medication! The focus was on the protagonist who it feels we never really get to know which made for slow development, and the flow often felt repetitive and drawn-out, although this was possibly an artistic choice. Despite this, I did enjoy the way the author writes and many elements were wonderfully detailed and beautifully grotesque so despite wanting to abandon it a few times, I persevered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, and Emotional abuse

breedee95's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Woah. Didn’t think I could dislike a character more! This story follows our grieving and depressed narrator as she embarks on a really unhealthy journey of sleeping for an entire year. The idea is that this rest will allow her to disappear completely and emerge as a new and improved person. Explores themes of death and addiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Vomit, Grief, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

pierreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Confinement, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

mint7's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.5

I can't fix her but I could make her worse

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Body shaming, Confinement, Infidelity, Abortion, Addiction, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

kry_yang's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

i was so thoroughly entertained by the main character's shenanigans that i read this book in a single day. the MC's absurd personality/outlook on life (which was, again, extremely entertaining) made it difficult for me to understand the "serious" discussions about art, performance, capitalism, etc. 

also screaming bc i found out moshfegh writes a lot about butt stuff. like, miss ottessa you are one hell of a white woman i must say

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Eating disorder