Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

98 reviews

beccacondon's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Toxic friendship

sierrawellsreads's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship

psychnp's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

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Initially read this in high school and at the time it was so compelling... as an adult in my 30s decided to relisten -- it's still a compelling peak inside the mind and perceptions of a teen post trauma 
But the prose felt waited down with every day high school angst, kind of slogging through the monotony of every day life. While this is often an accurate experience when someone is trying to survive and re-engage in the world post trauma, it's not the experience I want as a reader/listener

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship

samjnow's review against another edition

4.5

emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement

gr3yyvi's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

ejreads's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

adonisisoffline's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Violence

Minor: Misogyny, Toxic friendship

darren_cormier's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol

nie_fertig's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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This is a tragic tale about trying to live life after becoming a r*pe victim as a heads up to those who are interested in reading this, but I still think it's an important read whether you've been a victim with r*pe/sexual assault or not (unless, like my friend, you were recommended to read this in elementary school?? I think this is too traumatizing for that young of an age--wait until at least high school/maybe middle school for your kids to read this). 
Anyway, the narration of our main character, Melinda, is spot on as an edgy, traumatized high school student. I actually related with some of her thoughts and feelings because I was also once a very edgy and anxiety-driven middle/high school student. I'm thankful that I've never been r*ped before, but as a woman, the flashbacks or what happened to Melinda were terrifying to read--even when there were few words as possible to describe what happened--it reads and feels like a blur, which is exactly what Melinda went through. So, the writing style is excellent, and this is an important banned book to read!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment

baffled_brouhaha's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship