Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

9 reviews

theliteraryteapot's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I tried the mystery/crime genre, a cosy one, and was not disappointed! I love tea and books featuring tea. I liked how the author tackled some more serious themes in a little cosy book, such as toxic marriage, parents' expectations and pressure, and motherhood. It was a really fun, and at times, quite emotional read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

abicaro17's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

So cute! I enjoyed this fun little murder mystery. It was funny and an interesting story about found family. I think the dynamic between Vera and the murder suspects was so funny and interesting. My issue with this book is how slow it is. The whole first quarter was so unbelievably boring. Like the murder wasn't even interesting enough to keep me engaged. Also the whole murder wasn't even that good. Like could have gone without that part. It was ok but not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Stalking, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence

emilywemily6's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

This book was a fun and quick read, with quirky characters and some humor. I appreciated the wholesome, meaningful moments sprinkled throughout as well as this band of misfits grew individually in their self-esteem and confidence despite the sorry state in which they started at the beginning of the book. However, these characters didn’t really have depth, the mystery was lacking in plot and was predictable (considering there were zero clues) even though the reasoning behind the murder was inconsistent with the characterization throughout the book, and while Vera was funny, I have a hard time not being slightly bothered by silly, willful characters like her who refuse to follow the rules. Also, the two year old acted at least four years old for the majority of the book?? I have a three year old and Emma was adorable yet definitely not only two. Overall, a fun read, though I wouldn’t run to the bookstore to grab another Vera Wong book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Grief and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, and Racism

atamano's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Child abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Infidelity

laughingrevolution's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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: Abandonment and Grief

Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, and Violence

k_readingmorenow's review

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

3.5

A lighthearted, self-aware cozy mystery centred on the strong-willed, impulsive, and lonely empty-nester Vera Wong. After a man turns up dead in her tea shop and the police rudely refuse to drink her tea or behave like the police on her favourite crime shows, treating the death as as accident, she sets out to solve the 'murder' herself. Along the way she gathers a group of young 'suspects' who she grows to love and care for - even if she thinks the killer must be one of them. The novel is very descriptive about the Chinese food and teas Vera makes. In addition to a compassionate and humorous look at Vera, it delves into the internal struggles of each character coping with their own complex family relationships. 

I found it loses steam around the 3/4 mark and sort of treads water, still trying to focus on atmosphere while not knowing what to do with the plot. The child character who is supposed to be two becomes more of a focus, which I dislike. She is inconsistently precocious, being whatever the plot needs her to be, behaving anywhere from one to ten years old. But the ending is surprising and does tie it all neatly together, which I appreciate in a mystery. All in all, it was an enjoyable light read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Stalking

Minor: Child abuse

beckyremillard's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

As lighthearted as a murder mystery can be. Other than the murder part, it’s a story about growth and friendships and a tenacious woman named Vera. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, and Child abuse

heather667's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Bullying

Minor: Child abuse and Dementia

gillianengelbrecht's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Stalking, and Death of parent