Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland

31 reviews

alicejm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

A good first novel, but very clearly a first. The writing style was disrupted and jolty. The main characters weren't given room to breath, and the side characters (who were by far the best characters) weren't given enough time. The lack of communication between family members was infuriating and unnecessary. This is not the book for you if you find miscommunication frustrating. The first half and the second half were written very differently. The mystery aspect was really compelling though and I enjoyed wondering about things. The exploration of generational trauma was also very well done. If you want to find out more about flowers, this book ain't it sadly. All the flower meanings are made up.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

jrae1334's review against another edition

emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Deportation

carijacqueline's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abandonment

mari_teran's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal cruelty

kiwichill's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Deportation

Minor: Medical content

ashyyy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.75

This book feels so special, but I'm not entirely sure why. I fell into a world I was not expecting to find and lived alongside characters I grew to love and care for. I felt such a pull towards Alice Hart's character and the need to see her safe and looked after.
The writing was easy, yet beautiful, to read. I found myself enjoying the secret language of flowers and going back to discover what characters were saying to each other through them. I already want to read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

mrsfrozzie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

This book tells the poignant story of Alice Hart, from her childhood to her adult years.
It's a story of pain, generational trauma, domestic violence, love, finding yourself and breaking a vicious circle.
There is a miniseries on Prime adapted from the book. I'm looking forward to watching it and see what they did with Alice's story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

lilydarcie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-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

I really enjoyed the poetic writing of the book, I was constantly transfixed and wanting to read more.
I thought the integration of First Nations people, and their story telling was incredibly respectful and done so in an interesting way (recognizing I am not a First Nations individual).

The depiction of a domestic violence relationship was awfully good, it was heart wrenching to read, however an accurate depiction of what many experience.

I loved the artwork and small poetry throughout, and incorporation and Australian Natives 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

martieliz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Grief

allyrosemary's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad 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

4.5

A really beautiful story. If you loved Where The Crawdads Sing, you will love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail