Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

71 reviews

jenlizkins's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

I got sucked into this book. The audiobook narration had a high production value, which added another dimension to this story and paired well with the podcast element of the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug use

suchallie's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This was a quick and easy read, it was easy to get into and it really picked up on the last half of the book. I think the concept and structure are fairly novel and they work here, however I wasn’t a fan of the theme of gaslighting victims of abuse (regardless whether the abuse in the plot was true in the universe or not this isn’t necessarily a narrative we need to be pushing). Also the fact that Walter is deemed as imperfect and not villainous by the end despite being an actual pedophile and just all around creep is pretty nuts. Sorry, but I don’t care if he is a good dad, he’s still a pedophile?? I would have liked a spicier ending as well with Josie. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail

zoedonn's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic

huntertaeler's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Murder

nahal3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eccentric_kam's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I read this book because of a book club. I found almost no character likable in this book. It should come as no surprise that it was true to its title and unreliable narrator was obviously unreliable. By the end of it I did not know what to believe and I'm not sure that I cared at that point. I think part of the reason I did not find it enjoyable is that it was hard to connect with the characters.

I could tell immediately after that bathroom encounter that Josie was a few cans shy of a six pack. And the way Alix just does not seem to have any survival skills about her throughout the whole book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Drug use and Pedophilia

m_moon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Drug use and Murder

lakeofwords's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

I'm not gonna lie, I'm conflicted on this one.
While it was thrilling and a definite page turner, I reeeeeaally do not like how

an abuser ended up being portrayed as a nice guy in the end. I also do not like how this tries to perpetuate the myth of a child being able to "seduce" a grown ass forty five year old man??? Because she was, what? Deranged?

Fuck that noise. That's some pedo apologist bullshit.
That left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I did like the book other than that, it was a good read, it had me hooked from start to finish, but these aspects just grossed me out a lot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Blood, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

davschi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Excrement, and Murder

Minor: Drug use

katlinstirling_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Great read, hooked from the start. Twisty and completely addictive. Was on the edge of my seat! 4.5 stars cause I was a little annoyed at the ending but that makes it a great book! Absolutely loved the acknowledgments at the end too! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic