Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

16 reviews

sadiaa's review against another edition

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

3.5

I didn't find myself in invested in the plot or characters, some parts just seemed so predictable.

Felt weird knowing this was based on residential schools, with how horrific we knew those were.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Classism

sierrabowers's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

If I could rate this book a 6, I would! This was a great read that included so much diversity and I loved the message it was trying to present. The theme being: love others no matter what, even if you don’t understand them. I also believe the author included another theme: people are afraid of what they don’t understand. As someone who works with children and sees the corrupt foster care system, I encourage all to read. It is enlightening and also very funny. It was lighthearted while also touching on important subjects!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Violence and Cannibalism

iane_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Gaslighting

Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Recommend for teens+. Pages: P. 156 'A vagina being penetrated by a penis.' P. 263 use of pot/marijuana. PP. 274, 276 'deft little bitch'. P. 363 '...shove demerits up his ass.' The Anti-Christ. Just some items to be aware of that may not be suitable for a younger age. Positive queer representation. Belonging, family, nature vs nurture, inclusion, acceptance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury

fred___'s review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

This was written based on the 60s scoop. Indigenous populations have discussed often that it was not an appropriate thing for a white cis author to cover (and give a happy ending to) because it dismissed the trauma indigenous populations are still living. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

a_l_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

personal review notes:

C 7/10
A 8/10
W 5/10
P 5/10
I 4/10
L 7/10
E 5/10

-> 5.1/10
-> 3 stars

• C: the characters were super adorable and diverse, i liked how they were described, i didn' really felt connected though & i personally don't really vibe with linus 
• W: some feelings and situations felt over-explained, sometimes it left way too hopeful und overly positive, especially towards the end i sometimes cringed at some of the dialogues and writing
• P: the second half the story kinda dragged on, the over all outcome was very foreseeable 
• I: at first, i couldn't put it down and towards the end the only motivation to read was to get this book done. 
• E: in the beginning i really enjoyed it, was alright over all, glad that i read it, wouldn't read again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder

keelirae113's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is a love letter to everyone who has ever been made to feel that they don’t belong. You deserve a family who loves you just as you are, even if that means you have to go out and find them for yourself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death of parent

fraeyalise's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.75

What a nice, lighthearted book. I really love this. Sometimes it was a bit heavy handed and slow, but I really loved it. The characters were amazing, and the story unfolded very gently. I could see the twists coming but it did not dampen my enjoyment of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

This is a book about an orphanage. What do you expect?

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment