Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Das Gesicht unter dem Eis by Carol Goodman

15 reviews

lilifane's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

First of all, I'm so glad I read this book now and not in summer. The setting and atmosphere were perfect for dark, cold winter days. I learned a lot about lakes and how they freeze and about ice and snow and creepy wintry weather phenomenons, and I looooved it! I also really liked the story. I'm a fan of plots consisting of two timelines, a present and a past one, with mysteries that are connected. However, everything about the plot was super predictable. I guessed every single reveal possible far in advance. Most of the time I thought it was more dramatic this way because you saw things coming long before the characters did. Except of the reveal who the villain of the story was. Because this one was SO predictable that I didn't want to believe it and forced myself to find other explanations. Just to be disappointed because it really was the obvious one. At the same time I was furious with the protagonist who was so naive and clueless all the time. 

On the other hand, the details about what happened in the past broke my heart. Just thinking about how a few lies and misunderstandings and assumptions lead to so much death and drama and heartache. Uff. I wanted to cry during the whole ending. 

So this book was far from perfect, but I almost gave it 5 stars just because it made me feel so hard... and because the setting was so special. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Bullying, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

pressi_d5's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

margaretrose's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Incest, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

mediocre_omen's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

penofpossibilities's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

i guessed the whodunnit and im both proud and dissappointed ; i prefer being surprised by a twist but yea
this was sometimes a bit repetitive but overal very atmospheric and intruiging

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Drug use, Incest, Stalking, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Vomit, and Kidnapping