Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

9 reviews

abbiemaines's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

This book was good, I enjoyed the writing, but there were quite a few plot points/character interactions that regularly irritated me so I am only rating this a 3.25. I did cry though so Kristin certainly did her job:)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, and War

sarahfeller's review

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

What a fucking roller coaster ride. I laughed and I wept and did everything in between. Tully & Kate are lovable and detestable at the same time, which is to say they are human. The story arc is so pleasant. The subtle nods to different music was a nice bonus for me as a music lover. The end is devastating, though, so prepare with loads of tissues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

mkzach's review

emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Rape, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

lizsbookreviews21's review

challenging emotional lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I was recommended this book by my aunt, whose basically a sister to me, and I am so glad I took her recommendation because this book was phenomenal. I loved the trauma bonding that was done and how vulnerable Katie was during the whole novel. She just wanted a friend and would do anything to keep the only one she had. 

Teenage years are weird and difficult, I can’t imagine what it was like for Tilly. She had so many traumatic events happen to her before she turned 18. I loved her drive and how she just wanted to make a name for herself and be loved by everyone, since her mother couldn’t (which is so sad, but so relatable for so MANY people). The one thing I hated about Tilly was that she was so arrogant and blinded by her own drive. 

The climax of this book felt like it was always going to come sooner , rather than so late in the novel. Every time that they drifted apart, because of life and how life changed for them both so differently, I felt like that was going to be the breaking point that broke their friendship up. But the actual event was JAW DROPPING. I’ll be the first to admit, I hated Tilly after the event, but god the way that she made up with Katie after ykw was so sweet and made me bawl. 

I recommend this to any and everyone. I have friends who don’t read whatsoever and they love this book. This is definitely a wonderful read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, and War

maddie_1999's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: War

maddireads13's review

emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Grief

Minor: Infertility and Toxic relationship

lairofbooks's review

emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

jennastopreading's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

"Motherhood at time like this - most times - was about the steel in your spine, not the bend." - Kristin Hannah

My heart feels so heavy as I finished this novel. I purchased this book years ago and it sat on my dresser for probably a year. I never picked it up. Eventually, I donated it to Goodwill and forgot all about its existence. But then I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and I knew I needed more of her writing in my life. Naturally, I gravitated back to Firefly Lane, the book I never started so many years ago.

In hindsight, I am happy that I didn't read the book when I originally bought it in my late teens. It means so much more to me now in my mid 20's as a mother and a friend. I feel like I relate on so many levels to Kate's character - the good girl, the rule follower, the one who seems to always have bad things happen to her despite every effort to live life as wholesomely as possible.

TullyandKate's story is turbulent and action packed, and the characters are really brought to life with their witty dialogue and jokes they make between each other. I found myself wishing I could be a fly on the wall during their conversations so I could see how best friends of so many years act around one another. Their chemistry seemed so natural and strong, the kind of best friends everyone hopes they can have at some point in their lives.

By the end of the novel, I loved Kate and hated Tully. Kate was the strong mother that was dealing with real life scenarios - as a stay at home mom, I feel her feelings on so many levels. Tully, while originally bright, funny, and kind, turned out to be nothing short of a backstabber by the end. While she did eventually come back around, I found myself wanting to scream at Kate, "What are you thinking? She was so awful to you!"

But this is what a good book does. It evokes emotions you didn't know you could feel, it makes you think about things that may scare you. Firefly Lane did all of those things and more. Definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Eating disorder