Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan

13 reviews

feliciaguestwrites's review

3.5

While this book had a really interesting concept, I honestly just felt that Elissa R. Sloan tried to take on too much at once. For such a short book, there was so many sub-plots and the fact that it was told from all four Gloss members' perspectives, including their future perspectives, made it hard to follow. Granted, there were some really interesting subjects tackled in this book, which I think made it a very timely critique on the power structure in Hollywood, and how that often exploits young women trying to make it big. 

Was this comparable to Daisy Jones and the Six? No. I think if you go into it without that expectation, or that comparison, then you're probably much better off and you may enjoy this more.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Cancer, Stalking, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Racism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Suicide

jennastopreading's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Stalking, Pregnancy, Death, Abortion, and Homophobia

Minor: Outing, Cancer, Vomit, and Infidelity

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Stalking, Mental illness, Suicide, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Drug use and Homophobia

louiepotterbook's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexism, Racism, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

tallycat007's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicide, Rape, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Infidelity

avabudavari's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Physical abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Medical content

Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Outing, Cancer, Abortion, and Animal death

maggies's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I had high hopes for this book, but I found it fell short of other similar novels about fame and its consequences, like Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo—maybe Taylor Jenkins Reid is just really good at that theme?
There was a lot to recommend it at the start, great writing and an interesting premise, but ultimately it lost its way pretty quickly. Perhaps because there was so much going on that none of it could actually be afforded the proper attention and care? Sure, that can be taken as a reflection of real life, but doesn't make for a particularly enjoyable book, in my opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Dysphoria, and Death

Moderate: Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Infidelity, Car accident, Fatphobia, Medical content, and Outing

cassie7e's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.0

One star for competent writing, one star for prominent queer rep. If this had been marketed as YA instead of adult, I might have had different expectations. 

Maybe I'm just too old for immature teen drama, but I found all the characters offputting and unlikeable. They are terrible to each other and all think they are in the right, or are responsible for all the wrong in the world. I don't think it's unrealistic, especially in how teen girl performers are exploited, but made it very hard for me to root for any of them or really care how their storylines played out.

I also found the "mystery" of Cassidy's depression confusing. It was neither surprising to me that a character in her position would struggle with mental health for years, nor was there ever a conclusive explanation found for her struggles to justify everyone's bizarre interest/confusion about it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic friendship, Grief, Sexism, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Drug abuse, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Biphobia, Infidelity, and Stalking

ashleereadsbooks692's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Stalking

x_tora's review

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape and Stalking