Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

17 reviews

butilikeit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy

thenovelmaura's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Thank you to Simon Books for the gifted copy of this engrossing thriller! Engrossing and infuriating because so much of the crime depicted was rooted in misogyny and the reality that missing girls are often not given enough police resources to be found unless they are wealthy, well-connected, and white. The lead detective on the case was a Japanese transracial adoptee, but that was just one part of her identity and not the focus of the story, which I loved. 

Honestly it's a bit hard to verbalize why this book was so enjoyable for me; I think the truth is simply that I had no idea where it was going the entire time I was reading it. It was so dark and so compelling and so well-plotted. I've already told a friend to read this book and I'll be continuing to recommend it to thriller fans!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy

hellokaley's review against another edition

dark sad 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? Yes

4.0

A solid thriller / crime novel with a full cast for the audiobook making it a great and engaging listen. Some content may be difficult to read, but the details weren’t so, so heavy which makes it a bit more approachable.

I enjoyed the different perspectives and the writing style. I was actually surprised to get Ellie’s perspective but it really made the story stand out.

The second half spun a little wild and one of the twists gave me an eye roll, but it did pick up and come together in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Blood and Pregnancy

literary_laur's review

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

heyshay07's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I had a hard time putting this one down! I even read it digitally on my phone which is my least favorite form but I had to know what was going to happen. Jean does such a good job with the pacing which is why I read thrillers. I did not see the twists coming but I had an inkling who the captors would be since there aren’t a ton of characters in the book. However, because there aren’t a ton of characters and misdirection, the author spends a lot of time on character development which I think helps the story. All the main characters in the story are flawed, but have enough about them to keep them relatable, if not completely likable. Some of the other reviewers said they felt like it was too preachy and man hating, but I think it’s just the situation and villains of the story. TRIGGER WARNING: There is sexual and physical abuse of teenagers. It’s mainly a lot of mental abuse, but I know I wouldn’t recommend it to some friends because of that. Other than that- 5 stars! If you like thrillers, go read this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

meaghankmc's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

For the most part, I could not predict where this book was going next and thoroughly enjoyed the journey it took me on. I was hooked, and Ellie and Chelsey were both very interesting characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

louisekf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Infertility, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

colorcrystals's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Gun violence, and Excrement

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

enzopudge's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

sariereads's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism