Reviews tagging Toxic relationship

Beach Read, by Emily Henry

23 reviews

aus10england's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

This was… all over the place. I think there was a LOT going on to make it super enjoyable. It was well written for sure. I think a few less plot points would have made this a bit more cohesive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Cancer

juliaaaaaa's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

the writing style is so beautiful. and it's the most realistic romance book i ever read. i just didn't like how january acted sometimes, pushing gus to talk to her. 
besides that, i loved it and cried many times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Vomit, Cancer, and Sexual content

filipa_maia's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

This book was really good. And I say it like that because, once again, this is not my go-to genre. But, once again, was a suggestion from my monthly reading group and I decided to give it a chance.

This is not a typical romance in a sense that are some really dark and heavy topics represented: domestic abuse, a cult, death... the kind of themes that are not associated when you ear the genre romance.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how dark and mysterious Gus is and how fragile and hurt January feels. And I like the way both of them decide to give each other a chance (although, sometimes, January frustrated me a lot). The best part about this book is that it shows that two people with completely opposite visions of the world can find common ground.

I really liked this book and will look for more books by Emily Henry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Abandonment, Grief, Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Vomit, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident, Alcohol, and Cursing

madxlyn's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Vomit and Cancer

Minor: Toxic relationship, Child death, Alcohol, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

marieos's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

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

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship

kyrstin_p1989's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

I loved this book so much. I resonated with January on a deep level for many reasons. It’s a love story — a story about how our flaws make us human — and a finding yourself story. This book is more than just a romance novel, it’s a story about people who are trying to figure out the meaning of life through all of the heart aches that life is wont to throw our way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Cancer, and Violence

amykwrites's review

emotional hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, and Physical abuse

toofondofbooks_'s review

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I don't have a lot of things to say in a critical sense. I just really liked the vibes in this book. It dealt with a lot of themes around familial trauma and grief of people we knew / thought we knew. It wasn't really a light read the way that the title would suggest, but I was fine with that, because I really like romance to have depth to it and I really felt that this one did. I still like People We Meet On Vacation better, but this was pretty solid.

no thoughts just vibes you know

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Vomit, Cancer, Cursing, Injury/injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Addiction

lindseyhall44's review

emotional 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

A new favorite and comfort read, I know I’ll return to Beach Read any time life gets too difficult.
Beach Read follows January as she moves into the house of her recently deceased father, trying to earn money by writing another book. The only problem: massive writing block. Now enter Gus, her college rival and new neighbor. Will they make a challenge to write a better book in each other’s genre? Definitely . Will they fall in love? You’ll have to read and find out:)
Emily Henry writes such an amazing character exploration, where even the side characters feel entirely fleshed out. That being said, the two protagonists are still where she shines, and the emotional depth built off of their connection is the dream for a real life relationship. I also loved how Henry incorporates a variety of emotions into her works. I laughed, I cried, and I appreciated how even the more darker topics were handled with care.
All in all, I would recommend this for anyone who loves a strong romance with an even stronger protagonist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Cancer, Grief, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

lnickel7's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

This book is kinda cheesy but also deeply emotional. Highly recommend if you're looking for a more emotional rom com, great character development.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, and Infidelity

Minor: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship