Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

54 reviews

cheyfay1995's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

I think The Dixon Rule has become my favourite book Elle Kennedy has ever written - or at the very least, it's snagged a permanent spot in my favourites of hers. I laughed, I cried, and awwed so many times. 

It was funny, heart breaking, and so cute. 

4 ⭐️s
4.25 🌶s

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

juliesleseecke's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

sarcasmanddietcoke's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol

lindsaymc74's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

I LOVED reading Diana and Shane’s story. Watching Shane’s character development was very touching. In a lot of ways I see myself in Diana so maybe that’s why I loved it so much. My only reason for not giving it 5 ⭐️ is because of the ending.

I love how Kennedy wrapped up the Percy plot line and how Diana finally gets the help she deserves, and the death of Shane’s dad crushed me because of how crushed he was. The last scene of Shane and his father together when they were talking about all the things Ryan is going to miss and how Shane is going to accomplish his dreams was touching. I thought the book wrapped up too quickly after his father died and after the incident that winds Diana up in the hospital. I would’ve liked to see either an epilogue or another chapter or two that shows Diana and Shane settling back into some normalcy, Shane making his NHL debut, etc..

But other wise, I ADORED this book.

mrsmonty503's review

challenging emotional funny lighthearted sad tense 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

Shane Lindley and Diana Dixon. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Alcohol

magsdiary's review against another edition

lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

fairytales's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

The spice/kink level in this series is high for me and would not be everyone’s cup of tea. That being said, Shane and Diana’s relationship development in this book is well-paced and a lot of important life lessons and topics are covered, including

physical abuse of a past partner, processing and reporting that abuse, as well as the fear, anxiety, and mental health consequences that result. In addition, processing a cancer diagnosis and death of a parent.

These important and challenging life themes and situations and how the characters dealt with and supported each other through these situations really made this book shine. The HOA neighbors and amateur ballroom dance competition added some nice color and fun to this story as well. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

chan0503's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

lizzie1096's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wish to never leave the universe of Briar U. The way that I'm absolutely obsessed with every single character, old and new, is probably a bit unhealthy, but I don't even care. Firstly, the cameos of our OG babies... I live for them. I was screaming and kicking my feet whenever they were on page. 

But put aside the nostalgia, this book was incredible. Of course, we get the spicy friends with benefits that we were promised with a sprinkle of that enemies to lovers banter, but no one prepared me for how deep this book would be. 

Both Diana and Shane have just recently gotten out of relationships, and I certainly wasn't expecting how big of a role these exes actually play in the plot of this. But with the existence of these exes in their lives, Diana and Shane realize how love should feel and what it is to be truly loved by another person and supported. 

And of course, there's the heartwrenching third act shocker that had me sobbing in my room at 11pm 😭😭 

All in all, with all the banter, nostalgia, HOA meetings, spice, and sweetness, this book was absolute perfection. 

Now we better be getting our Beckett and Will book next, or I'll be suing for emotional distress.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

ghostsinthegarden's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Medical content