Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

35 reviews

carlyjb16's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

idk_indigo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This is (I believe) my 2nd book by Lisa Jewell, & I loved it! I was a bit confused by the school in summer, but I guess the British do it differently out there, or maybe it was summer school? Either way, this book was phenomenal! I finished it in 1 day, & it certainly kept me on my toes. It was eery to think about the idea that people who have done evil, horrendous things, often think they’re being helpful & that they’re doing the kind thing. I do wish more of Pat’s storyline was discussed, ie, it can’t have been easy being raised by a singe narcissistic mother; I feel like her general come-through was “I know I wasn’t the best mother, but Josie was a lot…” & it felt weird & dismissive to not only the character development, but also the storyline. I also enjoyed the almost detached narration; we as readers don’t really see the MCs’ inner workings. We hear about their narrative, & obviously I always love an unreliable narrator, but we don’t hear a lot about the fear or anger they are experiencing, which in all honesty I kind of liked, I think? It made it interesting, & for Josie’s story specifically, made her feel much less real which I think was probably the point. The whole “I don’t believe people like that really exist!” Felt a bit more feasible after going the whole book not really knowing what Josie is thinking. Wish we’d gotten a bit more motive, but overall I really enjoyed! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

blackcatkai's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

CW: toxic friendships, murder, blood, child abuse, domestic violence, grooming, adult/minor relationship, gaslighting, victim blaming, ableism, alcohol & drug use, mental illness, trauma

this book made me angry in a bunch of different ways. i wish I had known going in that it centered around an abuse/grooming victim.

I know that a lot of the different characters act very true to life in regards to how pervasive victim blaming is & painting horrible people as martyrs or good men in their death. how someone being not entirely truthful can make everyone around them believe that then EVERYTHING is a lie, even when it isnt. so much of what happens in this book is very true to life.

however, I am still conflicted. honestly, what Josie did isn't ok. but neither is all she went through or how everyone treated/saw her. she was a woman who desperately needed help & care from such a young age and she never got that. a narcissistic mother, a married 45 year old man taking advantage of her as a young teen, her own adult children never seeming to understand how fucked up it is that their dad groomed their mother.

I don't know. I don't honestly think we're supposed to side with alix. I really don't. I can see how Jewel is also attempting a commentary on how true crime can sensationalize and twist stories about real people and turn them into something else entirely. and she's not wrong! but overall something just feels off with the way the subject is handled that doesn't sit well with me, but I also can't quite put my finger on it.

there's also a tiny moment of autism mentioned in regards to a character that also felt a bit... not quite right. just go in carefully with this one.

I will say either way that the audiobook is done EXCEEDINGLY well. a full cast & production. little touches that make the podcast moments feel like a real podcast. very well done, in that respect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, and Medical content

Minor: Rape, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eperetz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was interesting, well written, and well paced. It’s the first Lisa Jewell book I’ve ever read, and so was impressed by how she kept me invested in the plot the entire way with just enough of an unexpected outcome and ambiguous ending that I was never sure what to believe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, and Stalking