Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

26 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

********** I don’t consider these spoilers, but you may *********



This may be an extreme and even glamour filled version of a reality that happens everyday to millions of women, especially BIPoC women and young women. Millions of us have been/are being assaulted (myself included), and probably just as many or more of us are beaten and brutalized and victimized and gaslighted by men, especially men with power, money, and influence. It doesn’t even have to be a lot of any of the three - so long as it’s just a little more than what we have. This story is my story. It’s an exaggerated version, but it happened to me under different circumstances. I also suspect the entertainment industry is probably as toxic as written. Bravo to Tiffany Jackson for writing with courage and gentleness and for killing off a character who should’ve been raised differently and could’ve brought so much beauty into the world if he had.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Infidelity, Stalking, Classism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Gore, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Rape, and Sexual harassment

gen_wolfhailstorm's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Blended reading with this title!

The Details: 
Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Unabridged 

This was heartbreaking. I had to slow down half way through and read a little at a time because it was so upsetting.

The suddenness of how quickly Enchanted was able to go on tour with Korey and how quickly she began to see the cracks in the supposed fairytale was devastating.

This was such a genuinely difficult read, especially knowing how much this happens in the mudlsic industry and how compliant those within it are. Its either they ignore it or are blatantly actively taken advantage of these young people that are supposedly under their wing.

The power dynamic between Korey and Enchanted was messed up from the start, but I find it hard to feel some sort of way about the parents as I feel like they were blindsided just by allowing their daughter to follow her dreams... it just so happened those dreams were within the power of a cruel, predatory man.

The scenes with Enchanted at the mansion were really difficult to read and when she began to doubt her sanity I just near enough broke down because how many times is a young Black girl going to be told she's crazy for speaking up. Simultaneously I was second guessing her reality too, feeling guilty for it, be because of what she was being subject to, what she was being fed (literally and metaphorically).

Tiffany D. Jackson portrayed a dark and deeply upsetting narrative, giving voice to the many young women who have lived this, trusting in the goodness of people and their love, in the act of chasing their dreams. This was a sad perspective, but one I'm glad I have finally read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Pedophilia, Body shaming, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Excrement, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Classism

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.0

Damn, Tiffany Jackson and her unwell, unbelieved Black girls. So far I am 3 for 3 with her books. They hurt and are beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Classism, Sexual content, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Child abuse

happynessheals's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

WARNING! this book can be triggering for some. It’s a great read, but in the middle I stopped reading because it was triggering me. the plots are great and the ending did not feel rushed! The ending was actually extremely unexpected and this book was a thrill ride!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

mother_of_stallions's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Death

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

5.0

This book had me holding my breath the whole time I was reading it. While predictable in a lot of ways, it is still a story that demands to be told. I couldn’t even get emotional until the very end. Loosely based on R. Kelly’s abuse of young Black women, this book is a devastating portrayal of all the ways money and power allows men to get away with whatever they want to do to women, especially Black ones. This book is an homage to all the women who’ve been abused and haven’t been believed. Believe them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Trafficking

bethsbooketlist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

5.0

Another mind blowing narrative by this incredible author. I have also read Mondays not Coming by this author and it blew my mind. This is exactly the same in that gut punching impact and dark & gripping plots that are INCREDIBLY emotive. I am always brought to tears by her beautiful writing and key messages that are difficult to hear but needed. Her narratives are current and speak to so many, opening our eyes to what is happening in the world. Her lead characters just take over your heart and soul 🖤 I cannot wait to continue my Tiffany D Jackson journey! I have read both of these via audio and i would probably stick to audio - the narration works so well 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Slavery, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction and Body shaming

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? N/A

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Stalking, Dementia, Trafficking, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Medical content

Saneism, Misogynoir, Police Presence

_fallinglight_'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Gut wrenching, searing, lightning fast book. The best friend dynamic is so beautiful and endearing and Gabriela is an incredible character. Enchanted is an affecting MC, too. In fact, all the characters add to and affect the plot. I didn't know where the story was going and was literally shook by the twists. My heart both raced and ached reading it. Tiffany D. Jackson has become one of my favorite authors. Grown is yet another impactful and confronting read that doesn't disappoint. Also, loved reading the acknowledgements page and discovering that Proverbs verse. I've been having some struggles lately and finding that was literally godsend. 


(p.s. Shout out to user @ravenlily for creating the 2022 Read Your Bookshelf Challenge March prompt bc otherwise I wouldn't have found this book and read it. Thank yoUu!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Bullying

almoore5's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Torture

Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Drug use