Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

38 reviews

gellyreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I feel like I should probably give this 5 stars because I devoured it. But, it just felt like something was missing. I'm not sure. Although, this is the best true crime book I've read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Death, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Child death, Torture, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, Slavery, Cursing, Confinement, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Blood

emilyrosebooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

As far as true crime goes, this is fast paced, fascinating, and like watching a train wreck happen. I apparently don't have the stomach for true crime, at least now when it comes to child abuse, because I thought this was horrific. I am giving it 5 stars because as far as true crime goes it is a fantastic book, but you better have a strong stomach to get through the prolonged sadistic torture Shelly Knotek dispenses on her many victims. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child death

asmokeybear's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Cursing, Confinement, Drug use, Torture, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

megansreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Wow. I’ve never read a true crime book before and this was diving into the deep end. The author tells this horrific account with great compassion for the sisters and other victims. I would recommend this story to true crime lovers, criminal psychology enthusiasts, and people who believe in the power of sisterhood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Excrement, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt

cfarron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Murder

sammiepineapple's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

The book was descriptive, these children and at risk adults were certainly living a nightmare. It is scary to think about the people in the world who are truly doing these things. 

As for the book, it felt a little long winded and repetitive. I wouldn’t read it again but I’m glad I finished it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Eating disorder, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug use, Incest, Kidnapping, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Gaslighting, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Cancer, Drug use, Death of parent, and Blood

Minor: Excrement and Vomit

raesengele's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Torture, Confinement, Cursing, Death, and Homophobia

This is a VERY graphic book. For the first time while reading true crime I honestly wondered if I should be reading these things. It's horrific what happened, but the family wanted it to be told.

amberlinanderson's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

3.0

This is a very intriguing story. Sickening for sure! I didn’t care for the way it was written, though. It probably could have been half the size. A ton of unnecessary repetition. Also, the title is misleading. They may be bonded in sisterhood right now, but they were completely dissociated growing up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Torture, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Homophobia

heathermarie08's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

3.0

This is a horrible story of an evil mother, her brave children and victims. I usually enjoy true crime but for some reason did not enjoy this book as much. It read a bit slow and I felt like could've been a shorter book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Bullying

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child death, Excrement, and Fatphobia

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cancer, and Alcohol