Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

35 reviews

annaonthepage's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Classism

mariella02's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

So coming from someone that has only ever read two thriller novels, this isn't at all what I think of when I think of the genre.
It reads more like a literary fiction book, especially in the past time line.

Contrary to most other reviews I've seen I actually really liked the 1974 timeline, for a lot of the book I actually found the group and their dynamics more compelling than Chess and Emily.
I'm actually really impressed by how much character work Rachel Hawkins was able to fit into this relatively short novel.

The mystery aspect of this book didn't feel too mysterious to me, hence my verdict that this read more like a literary novel. I never felt compelled to figure out what really happened and for the most part was able to guess where the story would go. Still I enjoyed seeing it unfold on the page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Abortion, and Alcohol

cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

charlotte_37's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

tdawgg07's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

A brilliant blend of a fun summer read about friendship with a dark and winding mystery, this book seamlessly combines themes of art and history with a twisty mystery in an idyllic, summery setting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

aileron's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion

lbkenna's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Murder

novelideea's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship

robynbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug use, Miscarriage, and Sexual content

asclafani's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense slow-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

3.5

The beginning of the book was as hot as the Italian summer it focuses on! I felt like the middle stalled a bit with half woven moments of suspense. Even in those slower moments I didn’t want to put this book down and appreciated subtleties/connections across adjacent chapters.

Mari’s last entry was the most suspenseful component as we learned about her lying about the entire plot that Mari felt connected to! I wish this was more fleshed instead of the Matt/sick/cheating storyline. Chess’ complexity as a villain yet friend was also interesting to read. Especially in reference to their book deal!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Drug abuse