Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Yerba Buena: A Novel by Nina LaCour

56 reviews

garciaga's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

This book was biting more than it could chew. It tries to explore a relationship through time, how you can find someone that is good for you and yet, not be the right moment. And we sort of get to see it, but it doesn't have much impact since the characters are so underdeveloped. Emilie just lets life take her places, not really taking any decisions (not even when finally finding her "life passiom", it kind of just falls on her lap); and Sara has such a horrible beginning, but from then on things just work out perfectly everytime, and there are barely any consequences.
Maybe the problem is that I was expecting a different kind of book. I was also not a fan of the love story, since it takes them half the book to actually meet and then they fall in love instantly. Where's the pinning? Where's the yearning? Where's the idea that love is something that you build and strengthen through time?
Anyway. At least the writing style was beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug use

Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual violence

Minor: Cancer

caseyaboutthroughout's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Drug use

storyskein's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5

This is the perfect book to start with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning and finish with a glass of wine in the evening.  Even though Yerba Buena is deeply emotional, the deceptively simple prose draws the reader along. The prose, by the way, is probably my favorite part: a masterclass in sensual efficiency.

Yerba Buena deals with heavy, complicated issues, but the tenderness and vulnerability with which LaCour draws Sara and Emilie makes the book feel almost gentle at times. That's not to say that the trauma isn't dealt with--it is. The reader is left with no doubt the events that have shaped these women, and yet, LaCour balances the harrowing with the ultimately hopeful. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

dfbballinger's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Addiction, Death, Violence, and Toxic relationship

paulaortuno's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief

care4coffee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual violence

Minor: Racism

wildhorses's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Child death, and Drug abuse

lily1304's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I just read this whole novel start to finish without getting up from the couch. I got so absorbed! Definitely sad but ultimately hopeful and romantic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

hln's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I could read 500 pages more of this and would still love it.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Sexual violence

elizj____'s review against another edition

3.5

It was pretty cute. A few things that I think could have been explored more, or tied up better; a few things I wasn't sure what to think of. But I felt 100% pandered to as a queer woman, which was nice, lol. Actual bisexual representation, for a change! (Not just a character sleeping with men but "knowing it was wrong" until she got seduced by the right woman, lol.) 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

Minor: Sexual violence