Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

17 reviews

melusinedln's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I loved the setting of this thriller : most of the novel takes place in a bookshop. The first 100 pages were fun to read, but the book became boring, slow-paced and repetitive until around page 330, right before the end. The end also feels slightly disappointing, as it feels like nothing has really evolved for the characters since the beginning. However, the writing style was pleasing to read and I liked the themes and the criticism of true crime and its community.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Vomit and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal cruelty

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

elgin's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking, and Dysphoria

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

scarlettreadsbooks's review

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death

nightyvaqs's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

katndrsn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Well the first 75% of the book had the potential to build to something brilliant but the ending was contrite and the epilogues were extra nails in the coffin. Disappointing really, I had much higher hopes for this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

Minor: Blood and Mass/school shootings

emilypalah's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Wasn’t one of my favourites, the descriptive writing was very well thought out but the characters irked me and it felt like a bit of a chore to finish…did keep me feeling uneasy though which was probably the author’s intent! I just would rather not feel on edge on top of wanting to just finish the book just to finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism and Vomit

Minor: Mass/school shootings

thenovelbookshelf's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

This is a psychological, slow burn thriller that will leave you shaking and looking over your shoulder at some of your own colleagues.
  
Roach works at Spines and is more than obsessed with true crime, where the killers are more fun to think about than the actual victims.
  
When Laura joins the bookstore, Roach feels like there is a special bond between them. First, when Laura performs her dark poem at a recital, which Roach obsesses over. Next, when a drunken Laura openly admits her mother was killed, which spurs Roach into a dark plan with her goth rock boyfriend. 
  
We follow Roach down that dark path, ensuring Laura knows how special their friendship is until lines are crossed.
  
This is a novel so well written that it could be true, a scenario so lifelike and characters that you can find in any workplace, all combined with a story that will leave you spooked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Murder

sarahsbookss's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

linguaphile412's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Self harm