Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

376 reviews

lisa_m's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was an amazing read! The characters are fun, funny and loveable. The writing is captivating with loads of different elements like interview transcripts and text messages that make it feel unlike any other book I've read. I'm not a thriller person but this one was really well done. I really enjoyed Holly Jacksons writing and I already know I want to read more by her.

Now on to the plot and characters. I loved the banter between Ravi and Pippa. They are the heart of this story. I also enjoyed her friendship with Cara. The whole story was very thrilling and exciting to read. I read this book in one afternoon and I just could not put it down.

My main issue is with the reveal at the end. I do think it was well done but I just do not have it in me to believe someone who is a good father, kind and smart man and beloved teacher is also a pedophile, abuser, psychopathic murderer and kidnapper. Idk it just does not add up to me. Why would he sleep with a girl the same age as his daughter? Why would he threaten and blackmail his own daughter? Why would he lure a student who looks up to him and who he likes to his house to drug and murder him, stage it as a suicide and set him up as a murderer thus destroying this kind smart boys family and legacy all just so no-one would suspect him of accidentally killing someone he isn't even sure is dead!!? That's psychopathic! And I just cannot believe it. Also you cannot tell me this mans reaction to being confronted with what he did would be along the lines of 'it's finally over'. He is delusional! He would not see himself as a bad guy!

But it definitely was a shocking reveal I did not see coming at all. Beccas involvememt was figured out a bit too quickly for my liking. It's all just because she saw it in her eyes? While driving past her in a car?

Also this book is absolutely NOT YA!! I would never let my child read this. I think I would have been properly traumatised if I read this at 14.

Discussions of rape and date rape drugs are central to the plot as well as drug dealing, bullying, catfishing & sharing nude pictures online without consent, threatening messages, kidnapping & subsequent murder of a beloved dog, inappropriate relationship with a minor (with someone who is in a position of power over them), kidnapping of a minor and keeping them locked up in the attic for 5 years with only their kidnapper as a human contact who so thoroughly brainwashed them that they believe they are a completely different person now)

... I feel like there is more but those are the main things that stood out to me. This book is definitely not an 'easy read' is what I'm trying to say I guess.

But still I was very entertained and I really liked this book. I enjoyed that the story is finished and the big mystery has been solved. I definitely am going to keep reading this series though and I can't wait to read what happens next!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

dropshift5568's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

A 17 year old hanging out too much with a 20 year old and her parents are just okay with that?

And then they start dating at the end??

I grew up in a small town, but can’t suspend logic for how the adults act and allow the minors to behave, and how no parents were looking out for the other kids. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic friendship

lasivaranasi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

Interessante Geschichte - Hörbuch hat sich etwas gezogen - Übersetzung war manchmal sehr komisch und die Sprecherin fragwürdig - aber vor allem für ein YA Buch, war ich überrascht wie dark es teilweise war. Fand es spannend und es hat mich mitgenommen - viele plot twist fand ich krass, andere eher unnötig. Alles in allem, vor allem als Hörbuch und aufgrund des Aufbaus des Buches 4 ⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

letters_from_gabriella's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

4.75

So many plot twists, I would not have guessed the ending

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Dementia, Car accident, and Sexual harassment

purplepandajen's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Dementia

sadiaa's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

_mone_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Sexual harassment

purplesteffi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

vanessamariebooks's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a fast-paced, fun one and I can't wait to continue with the series and check out the first season of the show on Netflix.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault