Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Dreamland

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

jessyschae's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Trigger warning of physical abuse.

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gracegooglymoogly's review

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dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

This is the saddest Dessen book. I read it in a three-day span, and, although I knew it was a harsh book about abuse, it was still striking to me when the abuse started. The picture Dessen paints of the life the protagonist spirals down into is nightmarishly eye-opening. It's candy-coated, but a scary time, especially in hindsight.

This book also wins points with me in terms of the parents. I feel like most of the parents in Dessen's books end up becoming a necessary conflict by the end of the second act--seemingly out of nowhere. In this, the issue with the parents is foundational from the get-go, and is subtle, which makes the ending that more rewarding. Also, the juxtaposition of Caitlin's relationship with Rogerson to her mother's relationship with Cass is also just *chef's kiss*.

Please read this.

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emi_oz's review against another edition

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Sarah Dessen is a great author, and I love her books. I stopped reading because of content warnings.

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pugluver11's review

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emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I thought this book was a good, but difficult read. Seeing Caitlyn lose her identity as her relationship with Rogerson progressed was upsetting. You really see how she becomes a shell of herself as she tries to fit into the mold that Rogerson wants her to be. I liked how the different sections showed her taking on new identities throughout the story. In the beginning, she used Cassie to form her identity, then Rogerson, and in the end, she started to figure out her own identity. In my opinion, Sarah did a good job of not romanticizing the abuse that Caitlyn suffered. Those scenes were truly disturbing to read. I was worried that this was going to read like a romance, but it definitely didn't. The author did a great job of contrasting the "romantic" highs of the relationship with the abusive lows. I typically enjoy Sarah's books, and this one's no exception! I just can't take the name Rogerson seriously! I literally loled when I read that name for the first time.

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kriee's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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ittybittyninja12's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

3.5

While I didn't like this Sarah Dessen book as much as others, I do see why it might be important for young girls to read. I remember being super uncomfortable while reading it but that's the point of it. Don't go in expecting a romance book like her others.

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rebelbooks101's review

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

In this book we follow a girl named Caitlin. Her sister has recently gone missing and that’s when she meets Rodgerson. At first things are good, but soon enough things take a turn and suddenly staying with Rodgerson is worse than being without him.

This book is definitely hard to read because of the subject matter but it definitely gets the story across very well for that reason. This book is very well written and I could really feel for Caitlin and her situation. Caitlin really grows from start to finish.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book.

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