Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Pactul by Elle Kennedy

180 reviews

milamoo's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.5

I liked some things about this book but those things didn't include the main characters or the author's writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Child abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse

aleclghtwood's review against another edition

funny fast-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

1.0

Why would an author take such heavy themes like rape and domestic abuse and simply decide not to deepen the subject or raise awareness, but to use as a tool to character development, like they need to have that experience to be who they are today? And even that is made poorly. And talking about character development: the only two characters in the book that she gave a personality are the main ones, the other ones are just shallow as this book as a whole - Justin, who is the main catalyst for everything in the beginning, is totally forgotten at some point, even with all the hints about his shady personality and potential he had for the overral plot. Hannah is the worst, she spends most of the first half of the book claiming that she's soooo not like other girls (istg she actually says the words at some point) because she's not interested in many guys and thinking that other girls are whores for it. Garret is actually a nice guy if you excuse the way he thinks how men and women relationships work in the first chapters, but Hannah and the narrative treats him like some sort of savior and I think it's disturbing when we are talking about a rape victim. She's not a strong female character when she needs to degrade other women to feel better about herself and needs the help of a man to overcome a trauma. And about the domestic violence, it was written a little better, but when Garret

Spoiler

sees that Cindy is a victim, he tells that "it's not his place to intervene"??? WHAT THE FUCK??? It felt so ooc after everything his mother and him went through.

I understand why we would like this book when it was released in 2015, but right now? I thought we're over the pick me trope, disappointed to see we aren't. The only thing I hope could be good were the smut scenes, but not even that, they're just a few and not satisfying. I started this book with low expectations, but it was worse than I thought, hope I never read Elle Kennedy again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Minor: Grief

boundt0please's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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: Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Physical abuse

vj_thompson's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Drug use, Bullying, Mental illness, and Blood

emilyfrenchie's review against another edition

inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

lilyyyy_b's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexism, Blood, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, and Rape

Spoiler

one character (Hannah) was raped and doesnt like drinking in public as doesnt trust she wont get raped again. the other main character (Garrett) looks after her drinks to make sure shes ok. she went to therapy afterwards, also sees someone who testified against her saying shed given consent.

ashs8a's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape

m3lina_777's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing 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? N/A

2.5

miscommunication, horrifyingly 2014 outfits and super fanficy. It was very similar to icebreaker by hannah grace, but just done much worse. 

‘She’s so tiny and he’s so big’ trope runs this book along with the ‘she’s not like the other girls’. Misogynistic from both ends and just so fucking cringey

Here are some excerpts that stood out to me (not in a good way):

"girls who bat their eyelashes and thrust their boobs out to get attention."
"If only the rest of the female population was as smart as I am"
"Woman aren't supposed to think. Thats why your brains are smaller. Science Proves it."

and possibly the most painful one "Big penises and small penises and penis-shaped penises"

Also this may be a small spoiler (it’s revealed in the third chapter) but rape is one of the main focal points of the book and not in a good, educational, preventative type of way… a very using trauma as a plot point with little resolution or realism to victims type of way.. I didn’t find it super triggering because most of it is pretty broad but if you went through a similar situation it very easily could be triggering. Stay safe <33

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Alcohol

Minor: Rape

lilimaibrisson's review against another edition

emotional fast-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

My favourite book of ALL TIME. Read it in a week on vacation. FYI I’m not a reader. Some chapters were spicy and cute. Garett graham is my bf. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Domestic abuse

diana_raquel's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.5

“Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don’t know how you ever lived without them.”

The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus series, a series that follows the love lives of four hockey players. This is the story of Garrett and Hannah. 

Although this is the first book, this is the book that sold me on the series. Its a light, funny story, perfect for summer days. I truly recommend this story and the whole series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Rape

Minor: Drug use