Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

30 reviews

ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Did Peanut the dog die?

No, but he does get sick and require the emergency vet. He pulls through!

leann0330's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Such an interesting concept for a story. I had been wanting to read this book for awhile and noticed it recently became available on KU. So I grabbed it up and read it in a day. As the reader, I was able to use the context cues and foreshadowing to figure out what was going on, but it didn’t ruin the story for me at all. I thought Joe was a fabulous character and although I found Sadie a little ditzy, the fact she had a brain condition made that make more sense (I work with someone who has  brain condition and sometimes she has these sorts of issues as well). The “face blindness” was fascinating to me and the way it affected Sadie’s ability to paint portraits was devastating but also allowed her to explore another side of creativity. The way she felt so alone—even her BFF left her hanging at a time in her life when she needed support—made me hurt for her. Throughout the book, I laughed, I cried, I got mad at her family, I swooned. All the feels!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity

annadelreads's review against another edition

3.75

Another late night reading session to finish a book. It’s so weird to have read three books where the FMC is an artist/painter. 

Devoured this book in more or less 24 hours so I could see why people love Katherine Center’s writing. I got pulled in quickly. I had a really fun time reading this, even had a tear dropping experience. Would recommend to friends who just wanna try romance book because this is kinda cute although very very very very predictable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting and Abandonment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

ashlyncherie's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

What I love about this romance book that it does really well is the sense of anticipation it creates. You can’t wait for the main characters to figure out what has been foreshadowed the entire book. That’s what makes a romance novel stick out from others. Loved this

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Medical content and Suicide attempt

k8lynn's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

loved this book. totally unexpected twist!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kristysproule's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

manaledi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

3.25

This was a fascinating premise that was an easy read where everything gets tied up neatly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

amandaboyer's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

milesandmiles's review against another edition

3.0

I liked so much about this book, Center writes her characters' emotions so you get swept up in them and the love interest ends up being sweet. But there are 3 themes that she really, really needs to give up in her books:

1) Workplace romances - Do not hit on your clients, service providers or coworkers. Seriously, it's in almost every one of her books. These dynamics are so much more likely to be problematic it really shouldn't be a consistent plot point. 

2) Toxic family behaviors hide how much they love you! - I lost track of how many times our main character said no to her family and they just ignored her. But we're expected to believe that if you have enough empathy for them they're not so bad after all and maybe even know best! And having empathy for the people who consistently were awful to you is like the most admirable character trait. 

3) Horrible, horrible things happen to our main characters but no one ever holds space for them or really listens - In this case, the bff keeps forgetting the the medical disaster that requires hospitalization, surgery, likely loss of career and a possible permanent disability. The family is worse. It's like Center believes that unless it's from the good graces of a man who will marry you, women need to be an island with their bad feelings and never truly grieve or they'll be sad sacks forever. That you need badgering and continuous tough love or false cheer to make progress. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Fatphobia

tiffanyxoxoxoxoxoxoxox's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

This was a cute little story. Things were predictable and I guessed what happened but it was still a fun read. I do prefer the bodyguard over this but it is still worth checking out if you want a rom com. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide and Car accident