Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

7 reviews

jess_bee's review against another edition

challenging slow-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? Yes

0.5

This book was so shit 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

klsreads's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

reddeddy's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Incest, Misogyny, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

emilyreadstoomuch's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.25

very unique book, but it tried too hard and also was somehow not enough at the same time. don't know why when they were screaming at the abductor, of all the horrible things he did that they could've thrown in his face they just kept calling him fat?? they were like "you are FAT" like why not murderer, rapist, creep, etc.????? so insane. also it was just annoying at parts where cora was soooo not like other girls and mandy was villainized for no reason at times lmao mandy was a really terrible person though. this had a TON of potential like i could see the vision so clearly but was honestly underdeveloped. very fake deep!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

booknerdxo88's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

readingwithjamie's review

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

 Before going into this book you need to check trigger warnings. I cannot stress this enough! 

 

This is a dark romance, and the first part of this book is very dark. It starts off very dark but eventually changes along the way. There is growth, friendship, enemies to lovers. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. 

 

Cora is at a bar celebrating her sister, Mandy’s birthday. Cora ends up staying out late, well past when her sister and friend leave. She decides to call a cab to take her home. She quickly realizes that her wallet was stolen and she needs to call a friend for a ride. Since its super late, she has limited options. Cora calls Mandy’s fiancé, the guy she hates most in the world, Dean. She has known him for 15 years and they have never gotten along, but she knows he will help her. Dean picks her up, sparring and insulting each other on the car ride. Red lights follow Dean and pull them over, and that’s when this nightmare begins. They find themselves chained in a basement with a deranged killer. 

 

Every day is violent, ugly, and hopeless. They are stuck with each other and they slowly start to rely on each other, talk through memories, give up their truths and find moments of escapes from the horrors they’re forced to endure. 

 

Eventually they do get out and have to deal with what happened, what they said to each other, their family, the spotlight and most of all, Mandy. Reading this part of the book was agonizing, and I felt so much for the MCs. Cora and Dean changed, they shared something that no one else could possibly ever understand and they both struggled with that they are to each other. 

 

Their chemistry is explosive. This was such an emotional, painful, hopeful, raw read and I really enjoyed this. Still Beating is heart-breaking, uncomfortable, provocative and brilliant. 

 

Overall: 5 

Spice: 4 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

mollyjeansutter's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion