Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Maid by Nita Prose

89 reviews

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I felt a little like this was the adult mystery version of Amelia Bedelia. Mistaking

cocaine

for powdered sugar. I would be interested to read more about this book as a portrayal of ASD. Molly isn't officially diagnosed as being on the spectrum, but I assume that is the implication. I think it is an interesting look at clear communication and valuing the input of how every individual person's brain works. It was also a very fun mystery, and I'm excited to read the next book in this series. I thought the colors-as-names bit was very fun, and I REALLY hope that in future books, Molly can track down

that goddamn ex-boyfriend who stole her money!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Classism

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Police brutality, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mourbooks013's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief

ashley97's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Murder

hayleythompson's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

perfectcupoftea's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Deportation

lizzieiles's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Deportation

Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity

maddy707's review against another edition

mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.0

 

I am conflicted about this book. Although there were aspects I enjoyed, those aspects also come with things I didn’t enjoy.

For the most part I liked the main character. Though the random quotes/catchphrases I found cringeworthy. The autism aspects of the character are pretty stereotypical but also don’t make much sense. On one page you have her struggling to understand emotions and facial expressions. On the next you have her perfectly understanding people's behaviour. It’s inconsistent. 

This book is written in a first person perspective which I wasn’t a fan of at first but I eventually got used to it. FPP will always read like fan fiction to me in the beginning. 

At the end of the book there is this really great scene showing us the moment that Gran died. It’s incredibly emotional… and then it’s ruined by the main character essentially murdering Gran upon her request. Why couldn’t she just go in her sleep and stop breathing normally. Why did she have to make the main character do that? Additionally, while I understand Gran was very important to Molly, the constant mentions of her death and the grief that Molly feels is so overdone. It feels like every single page Molly is talking about her Gran’s death. Like we get it, she’s dead and you are sad about it, anything else? 

The writing of Detective Stark is so unprofessional and not at all how a detective would act. It’s like this was her first case ever. Every single time she spoke it irked me so bad. Not sure if the author intended for me to be so annoyed by her. 

The part at the end where it is revealed that Molly knew who the killer was all along makes no sense and almost completely ruined the book for me. Molly has no reason to cover for the killer outside of not liking Mr Black. About 50% of this book would have been resolved much quicker if Molly just told the police that. There are no clues given to the reader at all that Molly knew who the killer was. It’s like the author threw it in there at the last minute. It honestly makes 0 sense at all. It’s so out of character.

The actual crime itself makes no sense. Why did nobody check the security cameras? Why is Molly arrested when there isn’t actually any substantial evidence towards her being the killer. Why isn’t there more investigation into Mr. Black’s day and his ex-wife. It just makes no sense at all. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction

katypotaty0908's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

passionatereader78's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious 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

Well written mystery! I didn't see the ending coming! Fun read! I love Molly!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship