Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

14 reviews

madbirks's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

3.75

I should have read the trigger warnings on this book more closely before reading. It dives deeply into

the guilt and shame that SA survivors experience

and I was not in a place to read that at the time. Otherwise, a really good read with lots of twists and turns. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

cozybritt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This is a dollar coaster of a mystery/thriller. One of those where you don't know what's real or true till the very end. It was very good! But could also be very triggering. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

wibookbadger's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

I've heard many people say this book is hard to follow but I didn't experience that. I found myself transported into the story of these women and I enjoyed the process of unraveling the mystery. I will be reading more from this author when I get the chance!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide

mr_cain's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

I only docked .25 of a star because the pacing was so slow in the exposition. I understand she's establishing a whole host of characters and I do appreciate it, but it's a book you have to power through the first part of. 

This book genuinely kept me guessing. I did suspect the real culprit several times, but I waffled often. Hawkins does a great job supplying motive and details for each of the suspects without it feeling like a painfully deliberate red herring. 

Hawkins also makes the characters each their own and her style is distinct for each chapter in a different POV (i.e. Helen, Jules, + Sean's chapters all feel genuine vs. the same style with different names as many POV switching books seem to do). She provides a cast of characters who are complex and feel so real. Not every character is deeply complicated but they all have their own established psyches which I loved. 

I can easily call myself a Paula Hawkins fan after this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood

Minor: Chronic illness, Eating disorder, and Vomit

eshiltonn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

mabelstulips's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Death of parent

livjcarver's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

the book is split into 4 parts, with the first two being extremely slow and heavy on setting up the plot. there’s too many perspectives for my liking, switching between almost everyone in the small town and not really getting to know any in-depth. however, the last two parts had me hooked. much more fast paced, if you tried to guess the ending you were rethinking it all. having read previously a slow fire burning by the same author, it felt like that was a more refined version of this, like into the water was a practice run for a later book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder

cindas_books's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective relaxing tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

carleneb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Firstly I have to say this book is very dark in terms of the range of topics it covers. Check these before reading. However it isn't graphic apart from one occasion. 
I can't rate this highly enough. I was lucky enough to listen to the audio version for free from my library.
The book switches between many main characters so it can take a while to get your head around but well worth it. One of the best books I've read in a long time!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism and Drug use