Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Four by Ellie Keel

17 reviews

sophiehalliwel's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Rape, Bullying, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcoholism

ellahoward_'s review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Sexual assault

shadymist's review

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? N/A

4.5

I enjoyed this book very much. It’s been widely praised on TikTok and I can see why. A fantastic read and hard to put down. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Child death

Minor: Pregnancy, Self harm, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

whatzoreads's review against another edition

mysterious 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? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, Confinement, Incest, Self harm, Classism, Medical trauma, and Suicide

pageswithamber's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual assault, Self harm, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Confinement, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Blood, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Grief

fictionalsarah's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Rape, Self harm, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Gore, Vomit, Death, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual content and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

rhensie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

At the heart of it, this book is deeply, heart-wrenchingly sad. I would strongly recommend looking at TWs before reading, notably

graphic self-harm, sexual assault, rape, rape by a parent, bodily injury, suicide

. I honestly wasn't quite ready for it at times, and I think this is a book where a list of TWs should have been clearly printed at the beginning. I would recommend this book, but only to an older YA reader, and only if they are able to read it safely in the context of these triggers.

This is a tale that in many ways is disturbingly relatable. The central character - Marta - seems undeniably autistic coded to me, and her dream to get into this privileged school setting is unsettlingly familiar. The general pain of being excluded in this setting, the horrific bullying and the pressure cooker environment, is all too real. And Marta's pain is just particularly acute and extreme, to the point that it's hard to put it into words. 

Marta, Rose and Sylvia earn this book its 4 stars easily; its last star is lost by Sami, Lloyd, and Max, none of whom I really connected with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide

bookdreamer2024's review

emotional sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Self harm, and Sexual assault

booknerdcoco's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

OK firstly. This book needs a list of trigger warnings. I was so disappointed that one wasn't supplied in the book or online, especially given  the graphic content of the book. My concern is that a younger reader may pick this book up - it is set in a sixth form, which may lead one to believe it is a YA novel. It is NOT!! 

This is a very dark and explicit thriller. Was it good? Yes. Was it great? I don't think so.

Whilst the plot itself is decent, the text can be confusing in parts. I understand that the author was trying to keep things mysterious. But honestly, I just felt that it didn't land in places.

The story follows the life of four scholarship students as they embark on a scholarship in a rural boarding school
 There appears to be no leadership, and the bullying is rife. Due to the vulnerable nature of the students and the negligence of the staff, thigns soon take a turn for the worst. And somebody is accused of a crime, which then leads to even darker revelations.

I felt like the story could have been shortened in places. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only to the right reader. This story isn't for the faint of heart, and as previously mentioned, it could be  triggering for some due to the content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Confinement, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Pregnancy

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Death, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, and Vomit