Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

9 reviews

cattheplat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This wasn't the worst book I've ever read but it is definitely not making it onto my favorites list. It did give me the confirmation that the "controlling, rich, and '50 shades of fucked up' " trope is just not up my alley. The whole relationship that Ana and Christian form frustrated me and not in a titillating way. I found myself on more than one occasion wondering what Kate and Elliot were up to instead of reading about how Ana continues to ignore the flaming red flags that Christian was waving. 
The ending surprised me

I had assumed she would decide to stay with him at the end as there are more books in the series. Her leaving in the end made working through the book after realizing I wasn't enjoying it worth it, if not only to pretend that she moves on, builds better self esteem, and finds herself an emotionally healthy man to explore what she wants out of a romantic and sexual relationship. I'm assuming that is not the case and she ends up reconciling with Mr. Grey as there are two (?) other Fifty Shades books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

rain_buck's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Stalking

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Cursing

eule's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Manly okayish and repetitive smut (as expected) and not much happening. The kinks were a little too weird for me. He is just abusive and she cannot stand up for herself. She literally screams: „I am not like other girls and I am naïve as fuck, so pls fuck me until I cry. Still, I liked the books more than the movies, which I watched a while ago. 

PS: I NEVER WANT TO HEAR AN „OH GOD“ OR „HOLY -WHATEVER-„ FROM HER AGAIN. 

PPS: thank you for the book Paula <3

PPPS: despite my hate, I am currently 200 pages into the second book. Apparently everything about him can get worse (the kink and the gaslighting and manipulation). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death of parent

cady_sass's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Seemed like the right time to finally give this a shot, was not disappointed. I am slightly baffled as to what made this one particular erotic novel become the absolute pop culture phenomenon that it did, but I have no complaints 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

annaofjesup's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Vomit

planetshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Initial thoughts: This is the only book I’ve ever listened to in 3x speed because it’s the only book I was fine with only halfway comprehending. It was in Libby’s “Available Now” section, so I borrowed it. And no, I am not sure why I did it.

Reflection: But as it turns out, I feel that I have gained something by reading this series. I actually ended up listening to the audiobooks twice. The relationship is undoubtedly complicated, and so are many real ones, so it was interesting to analyze its evolution.

I ended up adding a half-star to my previous 2.5 after my second read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Stalking

Minor: Addiction, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

nidaelboustany's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Drug abuse

kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent

crystalmd1998's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

1.0

This is the worst book I have ever read. Christian is a toxic manipulative person and Anastasia isn’t a good person either.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking

Minor: Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use