Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

11 reviews

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

twistykris's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

3.75

The abuse and torture so many endured at the hands of Shelly (and Dave) is absolutely horrific. A very difficult read for the content involved (PLEASE check trigger/ content warnings).

I understand how difficult it must have been to compile all of this information from multiple people, but at times the book felt very repetitive and used a lot of unnecessary metaphors. 

Also, I have

Spoiler

VERY little sympathy for Dave. Yes, he was abused by Shelly and being a victim of someone so terrifying can alter your mentality, I know. But you CANNOT tell me he didn't know that what she was doing was so fucking wrong. He literally shot and killed his own nephew because she told him to. He watched his wife abuse her children and grown adults. He says he didn't know bleach was bad for the skin and thought it was fine that Shelly made Ron soak his feet in boiling water and bleach?? HUH?! And the fact they're both OUT AND FREE? Disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism and Animal cruelty

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

kinsbows's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Rape, Mental illness, Drug use, Death, Confinement, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual assault, Self harm, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Bullying

shelbyglover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.25

Though well written, I found this book extremely difficult to read given it is a true story. It hooked me at the start and was very fast paced. About the halfway point, I contemplated abandoning the book due to its graphic content. It's extremely heavy. I truly could not believe some of the things I read.  However I powered through the book in hopes for the best outcome possible for their situation. Overall the book was a good read. Not the best thing I've ever read but If you enjoy true crime this would be up your ally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Blood, Body shaming, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child death, Murder, Gore, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Torture

Moderate: Cancer

akeivens's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Medical content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Child abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Self harm and Cancer

caidycat1015's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence

michelles_book_nook's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ TW: parental death, mentions of suicide, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, narcissistic abuse, drug/substance abuse, domestic violence, graphic violence, graphic content, prolific gaslighting, torture, murder, homophobia ⚠️ This book is a real emotional rollercoaster and I cried so much. This read follows the life of the Knotek family told by the three sisters, Nikki, Sami and Tori, through police interviews and files from the case. It is honestly horrific and vile what this family endured at the hands of their mum, Shelly, but also discusses so many failings by police and various services to allow it to go on for so long. My heart broke not only for the family but also Kathy and Ron who were bought in to help with the growing family. As for the many men in Shelly's life I think the one I equally disliked and felt somewhat sorry for was Dave Knotek. He was abused like the children were even though he also dished out abuse instructed by Shelly but I found him infuriating with how he'd been brainwashed. In short Shelly is a psychopath. This is an extremely hard read but it is a very informative and good read too. If you are interested in reading true crime or abuse memoirs then I do recommend this but please read the TW's.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Blood, Self harm, Gaslighting, Torture, Murder, and Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent

erinseagraves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.5

this was one of the hardest books i’ve ever read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

e_sisack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Torture