Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

17 reviews

unicornpng's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

2.5

It starts strong, but the pacing is all over the place and the women are super gullible. :(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Blood and Murder

michelle_my_belle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

 This was a solid thriller. It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and full of twists and secrets. I did feel like the last chunk of the book took an odd turn and resolved kind of abruptly. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. Overall, an entertaining read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

This book was not what I was expecting, but you know what? I'm not mad about it. Whatever you think this book is about unlearn it. Think of the plot of "The Last Mrs. Parrish" by Liv Constantine, but wilder. It was just twist after twist after twist. The things that happen in this book are a little jarring (nothing out of left or anything, but still pretty shocking). I guessed some twists. I didn't guess others. There's a specific character that I was suspicious of from the beginning and I'm glad even in fiction I can spot toxicity.😂 Overall I feel like it was a really good page-turner and I really enjoy the friendship between Hazel and Lee. It was a good book, but the writing wasn't all that spectacular. There were actually a couple of grammar mistakes that I caught and I do feel like the ending was rushed, but I still enjoyed it overall.

Glad my girls are back together! In spite of everything, I still love them and their friendship!

Like I said definitely not a bad book if you're looking for something quick and entertaining!

Note: I'd just like to mention that I admire how the author takes her time to humanize homeless people and anyone else who is in a situation in which they feel trapped rather that be literally or figuratively. I also admire how she took the topic of BDSM delicately and didn't dehumanize it and prioritize  that acts like those are only harmful when they're nonconsensual.  

Spice Rating: 🌶️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, and Car accident

molliezeee's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

• Loveable characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Dementia, Car accident, and Death of parent

courtthebookgirl's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

Well, after a series of disappointing reads and a myriad of DNFs, I finally finished a thriller that lived up to the hype!

I picked this one as my @aardvarkbookclub book of the month a few months back, and picked it up after seeing @bookish.fit.nurse_jess recommending it on her page. I am so glad I did!

This is absolutely a book to throw in your beach bag because it practically demands to be read in one sitting. The first few pages had me hooked, and short of doing dinner prep and scooping meals on to plates, I had this book in my hand all afternoon. 

It’s a little dark and twisty, and full of unreliable people with unreliable stories. There are several twists, and although I had a sense of one before it came to fruition, I didn’t guess the whole scope of it. I wasn’t disappointed. 

I genuinely found myself flipping pages to figure out where this was going, and the short chapters helped. The only reason this wasn’t a perfect 5 stars for me is because I don’t love the BDSM content (it was largely off-page, but it briefly concerned me) and the ending may have been a teensy bit too neat for me - but the latter is hardly a complaint. I closed this book feeling very satisfied overall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Another solid domestic thriller!! This has definitely become my favorite sub-genre of mystery thrillers. And this one is heavy on domestic twists and suspenseful thrills!!

While it was a little slow to start, the intrigue never stops. It increases with each chapter (short chapters are the best) and throws in punch after punch of “WTF?!“ drama. This one is best if you go in blind, so I won’t say much else except that you will definitely have trust issues after finishing it. 

Robyn Harding is SO GOOD at what she does!! Fans of “Sleeping with the Enemy”, “Gone Girl”, “Killing Eve” and the like should flock to this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

soobooksalot's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Two women on two very different life paths makes for a most riveting story. 
 Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my eARC of The Drowning Woman for review!
 Canadian author Robyn Harding has absolutely nailed her latest thriller. The stories of Hazel and Lee drew me in immediately, and they're surrounded by secondary characters who are all levels of nasty.
 I was travelling while readin  this, and often find it difficult to keep up with a book when not on my usual life schedule - this one kept me at it whenever I had a spare moment!
 Recommended!
 For release on June 13.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol