Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

24 reviews

melaschnie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Misogyny, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Dementia, Addiction, and Confinement

melchncookies's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

I’m not sure why, but this book took me forever to finish. That said, what an amazing work. As an adult reading a book on SA for a YA audience, I think this book is amazing. It deals with the unfortunate reality on reporting SA, death, rape-culture, justice, and power unchecked. I love a messy heroine, and Sade is that. 

The middle of the book was the most difficult to get through for me. I felt like the story could have moved along, but the end makes it clear why you had to read all of it. That said, the writing style was excellent. I have not read any other works by this author, and now they’ll go on my watch list.

I highly recommend reading this. It’s a little healing, even for adults.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Death

Moderate: Self harm, Mental illness, Addiction, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder

mprinton's review

4.5

I really loved Ace of Spades, so I was so excited to pick this one up, and it did not disappoint. Àbíké-Íyímídé is so, so good at creating this kind of suspenseful story and plot with intricate characters and, always, an incredible plot twist.

I do think that I'm getting a bit tired (after only two books) of the reveal that everyone is a bad guy, and there's a secret society of evil people at work behind the scenes. I think that obviously these groups are stand-ins and metaphors for the very real system of racism (in the case of Ace of Spades) and patriarchy/misogyny (in the case of Where Sleeping Girls Lie), but it makes for a less interesting story if the author chooses to repeat the same structure with each followup novel.

That said, I will continue to read Àbíké-Íyímídé's books; she is an incredible writer, and her stories are so poignant, topical, and necessary. She tackles difficult subjects with each of her books, and she does so with care and mastery. An instant-read author for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

Minor: Animal death and Dementia

aliciaxingram's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Blood, Bullying, Sexual assault, Addiction, Murder, Rape, Suicide, and Child abuse

thebookdragon_taylorsversion's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I hope we get more stories of this world 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Addiction, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

lovelikethiswillendintragedy's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

Absolutely wonderful :0
I was worried for a bit that a trope that I *despise* (

A male love interest that’s covered in red flags but still ends up with the main character

) would happen, but nope!

The guy is actually a creep, and way worse than what she thought.

I feel kind of bad for being relieved, because the outcome was way worse for the characters that were involved, but I am just so damn tired of the alternative where

the guy is really such a good guy and everything’s fine with him.

 
But enough about that. The characters are wonderful, I thought it was interesting that the iconic popular girl trio wasn’t mean like I was preparing for them to be. They’re actually really sweet and it reminds me a lot of my school!
I loved Baz’s reactions to things, he managed to be the lighthearted “funny character” while still being down to earth and bringing the focus back to Elizabeth when necessary. Absolutely wonderful chaotic good boyo and I love him with my entire heart.
All in all, this book wasn’t what I expected. (Don’t get me wrong, I expected to love it, just not for it to play out the way it did.) The themes the author intended were strong throughout the book, and I read it in like a week, it was so good. 10/10, Baz can steal my soul if he wants, he deserves it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, Drug use, Death, Cursing, Rape, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Blood, and Kidnapping

Minor: Lesbophobia, Racism, and Mental illness

ckflaherty1's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Bullying, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexism, and Rape

For content warnings of sexual assault, the book does not graphically describe the incidents but does mention them and they are a plot point.

ghostlyprince's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, Stalking, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Confinement, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Animal death, and Physical abuse

There's a scene where a pet hamster needs to go the hospital but it ends up fine

bookishbette's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

Outstanding. Somehow even better than her debut when I truly thought it was impossible to top.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Mental illness, Rape, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Racism, Stalking, and Addiction

teryn's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicide, Murder, Addiction, Misogyny, and Sexual assault