Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

91 reviews

abernathy_33's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Eating disorder, Incest, and Dementia

erinjeanette's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

izzy_v's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I devoured this book — it might be the first book I ever re-read (it was that good and there were a bunch of details I might pick up on better the second time). 
I’m not usually a thriller/scary book fan and there were definitely very dark parts of the book but it wasn’t so graphic and detailed or suspenseful that it kept me up at night. I really enjoyed the tone shift away from glorifying the killer, and instead empowering the women involved. Really phenomenal, would read again (which I never say). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Incest, and Death of parent

meaghancook's review against another edition

3.5

Woof. I have some conflicting feelings about this one. 

Firstly, let me say that I find it incredibly unsettling that the author took real events, real people, real murders, and put a fictional spin on them. If it weren’t for the acknowledgement of a survivor of these horrific events in the acknowledgement section, I would find this completely abhorrent. As it stands, I find it distasteful and off putting, but I have to trust that due diligence was done in an attempt to publish this story responsibly and respectfully as possible. With the mix of fact and fiction, I did find it hard to keep myself immersed in the story. I think this would have been better served as complete fiction merely inspired by true events or total non-fiction written with the input and blessing of those most effected by The Defendant.  

All that being said, I loved the writing style enough that this pulled up to a 3.5 stars for me. Some of the lines will stay with me for some time. I hope to read more work by this author in the future that is more solidly in the realm of fact or fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent

laurenh6416's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Outing

lazstearns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Kidnapping

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

lexcellent's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

maggies's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is not a fun book. It took me significantly longer than usual to finish it because I never looked forward to reading it. And yet I think it may be among the best books I'll read this year. I was consistently angry while reading, but as Tina explained to her patient at the conference, sometimes anger is justified. Misogyny and bigotry cost us so much, and my heart broke over and over for Tina, Ruth, Rebecca, Pamela, and all the sorority sisters. Such a well written and important story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

ahopson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I was not ready for how much this book would put a hold on me. The descriptive writing really puts you into the narrator’s shoes. The mix of real life events fictionalization really pulls you in deep. I loved that it was focused on the victims and survivors and he is only known as the defendant on the writing to weaken his power. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Eating disorder and Incest