Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

23 reviews

kyraelisabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

eule's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is haunting and beautiful at the same time. The characters were incredibly vivid and traceable meaning that you could feel how torn apart Elle is between the past and the present. Lovely depiction of nature and the fragility of relationships. 
So much (!!!) emotional trauma in one book. Please check the trigger warnings, it gets pretty graphic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Incest, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, and Grief

sunshine_2's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

I had not read a book for myself for a while before randomly picking this up at the library. It was an alright jump back into reading novels; it’s an interesting story that also has highly descriptive imagery for the beautiful setting. However, it didn’t entirely grip me as I didn’t find myself rooting for the prominent love story. A large amount of characters were introduced throughout the story, and it was confusing at times to keep track of everybody. Additionally, there were multiple points depicting upsetting acts that I was not expecting. The ending is obscure and is left to the reader’s interpretation. Overall, it was okay, but I’m not sure I would recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Child death, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

jade_0222's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense 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? N/A

2.75

I discovered this book at my local library, attracted by its summery cover and knowing very little about its plot (I intentionally avoid reading synopses for 90% of the books I read so that I can approach them with an unbiased attitude). I anticipated a light, possibly romantic, summertime read, but I was completely mistaken. The novel centers around a family's vacation home called the "Paper Palace," which serves as a retreat during summer and holidays. Numerous events, ranging from heartbreaking to heartwarming, are interwoven throughout the vacation getaway. While I found some of the nature writing to be beautiful and immersive, the writing that focused on the main character was occasionally jarring and perplexing. The story takes place over 24 hours with flashbacks to the main character's childhood and young adulthood, I found these to be distracting. The characters in the book are difficult to like, and I struggled to relate to the main character. <**SPOILERS**The story follows Elle as she visits her family's summer home with her spouse and children. While there, she reconnects with her childhood friend, Jonas, who she has been in love with since she was younger. They have a brief fling, which causes Elle to question the "What ifs" she has always had about Jonas. The plot revolves around her struggle to choose between staying in her happy marriage or pursuing a new life with Jonas, along with traumatic experiences she endured in her youth and how that affects her currently. Despite Elle's infidelity, the book could be considered a lighthearted romance if you can overlook that fact. It is implied that she chooses Jonas over her husband, but the ending is not entirely clear. However, the heavy trauma that has affected both Elle and Jonas's relationship makes the book an emotionally heavy read. Jonas is the most interesting character in the story, but even he seems somewhat one-dimensional. Overall, it's challenging to find a character to truly like in this book. **SPOILERS**>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death and Cursing

Minor: Toxic relationship

sarahlverdugo's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

cathybbookshelf's review against another edition

dark sad 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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

sydneyreadssometimes_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual content

msavy15's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Murder

bethaniethebeast's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

Miranda Cowley Heller is an excellent writer, but sometimes this book was "prose-y" to the point of reminding me that I'm reading a book. I don't like the characters but I understand them and relate to them. This book does an excellent job of exploring generational trauma, but I have to say HUGE trigger warning for child abuse and SA, that fully caught me off guard. Overall was an interesting read and I recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Child death, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

dorsetreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Bullying, and Miscarriage