Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy

10 reviews

lawsam's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage

abidavisf's review against another edition

funny hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

Books about college are also so wild to me because what do you mean these 18-year-olds know how to function as fully-fledged adults? I guess that’s why they call it fiction.

Say You Swear was a rollercoaster. I almost DNF’d it at the beginning, confused by the abundance of characters and how they relate to each other, as well as the chaotic storylines. A LOT happened at the beginning, and not a lot of it, looking back, was necessary. It felt slightly like an idea dump that was intended to be edited and removed from later but was forgotten, or that all of the ideas are there as Easter eggs for later books which was just too much. It also felt like I’d stepped into the middle of a series and was supposed to instantly know who each character is, how they know one another and all of their past traumas. It was a lot. Much of the plot was predictable too.

That being said, as the story progressed, particularly as Arianna and Noah grew closer and the story revolved more around them than everybody else, the book really improved. It was easier to focus, and I was consequently more invested in the story, mostly Noah’s storyline in all honesty. Though I love Ari, there is only so much Chase I can read about.

I love Cameron and wish she’d had more of her own plot as the book progressed. What happened with Trey? How does she feel about Mason etc? I’m assuming Mason and Brady will get their own books but I would have also liked to have seen more of them. Mason had a lot of page time but as Ari’s brother, so it would be interesting to see him as an individual. Clearly, he is a bit of a womaniser and also in love with Payton so that could be intriguing to observe.

Noah’s storyline was tragic and beautiful. That was very well-thought out. I still have a lot of questions about him, but I think it was evident as we got through the book that we knew what we needed too I understand him fully, and I hope that anybody with even an ounce of Noah’s heart in this world gets their happy ending.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

dmchesher's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

andycob's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

bmitch21's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

First off, let me start off by saying this book is a 5 ⭐️ read! and what a journey this book was! This was my first book by Megan Brandy, and it didn’t disappoint not one bit. The book starts off so innocent and fun, a group of friends, more like family really, heading off to college together to start their adult lives. They’re all thick as thieves. The story focuses around Arianna, Ari for short, our FMC, and her journey of love and healing. This is told in such a beautifully tragic way. The author rips our hearts out. I stayed up till 2am silent sobbing next to my husband to finish this. I couldn’t put it down and needed to know how this story ended. I cannot emphasize this enough, it is SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN.
Also, there is spice and I give this one 3 🌶️
If you’re on the fence abt this one, just read it. It’s amazing. It’ll be one I’m left thinking abt for a long time and telling all my book besties abt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

culzean's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

bookswithbethx's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

ecravens's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kfmcf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

1.75

Oy. This book.

I don't normally read dark romances specifically because they feel soapy. This one did that too, unfortunately. 

The middle section of this book where Ari and Noah are getting together is good. The beginning feels dissonant and the end is an ABSOLUTE train wreck with like 7 tropes shoved in.

accidentall pregnancy? Miscarriage? Amnesia?! REALLY!?! </spoile > I almost gave up with like 50 pages left. 

There were also a lot of callbacks to previous characters the author had written that I did not know and are not in this series?  It was odd. 

My biggest disappointment was that I went into this with expectations of a sports romance and it wasn't. The football aspect was totally superfluous. Major bummer.

Also this book is hella white. Eek.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Miscarriage, Medical content, and Grief

andeng's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship