Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

18 reviews

calliedoo's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

I think this book was written as if it was the main character’s journal. I really thought I would relate to a lot of things throughout the story, but I found that it was drawn out and somewhat redundant. Not my favorite book and didn’t meet my expectations, but it does have some moving messages to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Body shaming and Cursing

Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Drug use

bookishlittleme's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

So funny and so relatable! Heisey expertly portrays what it feels like to lose oneself in that dark pit at the end of the relationship before finding your way out and learning to be okay again. Although the protagonist, Maggie, is not always likeable she is incredibly human. The only way I can describe the humour is "real." This book had me laughing out loud! Wish I annotated this one for sure since I had so many thoughts while reading :) - Plus the sticky flags would go great with the excellent cover 🫶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content

Divorce is the central catalyst for the protagonists story and arc.

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.5

This was chaotic right from its cover page to the very end 😂 Monica Heisey clearly wanted to write from the heart and was successful in doing so.

Some of the parts, especially around 70%, felt very repetitive and my attention started to wane, but I’m glad I pushed through.

The bit where they’re all having their adult dinner party and telling each other how precious of a relationship they have with each other as friends, I had a little tear in my eye 🥹

I have to say, Maggie starts off as quite unlikeable but in the end really grows on you. I just loved the truly chaotic and difficult time, and although I haven’t gone through a divorce, I felt her therapy journey was very similar to mine. I had moments of laughter throughout 😊

3.5 or 3.75 stars for me, nearly a 4 ✨ Thank you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

lana_reads98's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Biphobia, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

achay91's review against another edition

emotional funny slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content and Drug use

Minor: Eating disorder

meganashlee27's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

lindsm94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

1.5

While I did see some of myself in the main character, she was insufferable and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I wouldn’t recommend 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Cursing

bonchoix's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Toxic relationship, Grief, Body shaming, and Mental illness

Moderate: Eating disorder and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity, Stalking, and Biphobia

kabrown28's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism and Body shaming

Minor: Biphobia and Cultural appropriation

lifeonasofa's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

3.5

Really Good, Actually 👍🏻 Review 

“One day and it will surprise you how soon this day will come, but one day you will wake up and feel good. It won’t last long, but then you’ll have another day where you barely remember this abjection, and another, and another, until that’s just your life. But for now, it will be hard. This is the part that’s hard.” - Monica Heisey 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars 

This was like a chaotic podcast or diary, I really recommend the audiobook. It was a great listen on the way to work. Despite having some pretty sad themes, surprisingly, this book made me feel light and happy. It was like I was having a chat with a friend, maybe even myself 🤷🏻‍♀️

Heads up, if divorce is big in your life right now, some of the harder parts might hit close. But personally, as a nearly 30 year old - it’s almost comforting to read about others not having their life together yano? 🙈

There’s really not much plot here, but some decent character development. A good look at relationships, growing up, finding yourself, friendships, careers and hobbies in your late 20s. Also, a big clap for highlighting the importance of therapy 👏🏻

Overall, although I’m finding it hard to think of anything negative to say, it’s not a book I think I’ll remember, it was more a vibe ☺️

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Content Warnings

Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Grief, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Stalking