Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Meu ano de descanso e relaxamento by Ottessa Moshfegh

579 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

kaithebookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

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

brinasatt's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Vomit

Minor: Abortion 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

peachy44's review against another edition

dark reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

An intimately cathartic read, the narrator is our patron saint of narcissism and self destruction and we love her for it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Xenophobia

caitlincurran's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

Genuinely don’t know if I loved or hated this book? The main character was very unlikable, though I suppose that’s the point.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

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