Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

9 reviews

stitchbooks22's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.0

This was garbage, but still not the worst thing I’ve ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Body horror, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Child death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

kibberbl's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Minor: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Suicide

guivx5's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

 When I reviewed
We Were Liars,
I said:
"I still have the sequel to read, and I hope it doesn't suck."
Well,
I'm glad to say it didn't!

Lockhart had a terribly doomed job here: to write a worthy new story based on the universe of a success she wrote almost ten years ago, a book that was so unique in it's style it would be hard to avenge. Thankfully, the task was accomplished, and now we have more lies to be shocked of.

I see Family of Liars as a great expansion of the first book's universe. The Sinclair family has a twisted charm to their tale that guaranteed my interest here, no matter what. You simply want to know more about them, it's undeniable. But then, what could she write? After the shocking story of Cadence and her friends, the broken family full of intrigue and ambition? We Were Liars was an ambitious story itself. I had to find out what's up with their past. Turns out, it wasn't pretty.

Now, let's talk about reading experience here. This book has less strength than it's older brother, simply because it doesn't benefit of the surprise factor. That was taken away by the first story, so it is an inevitable fragility. But I do think Lockhart handled well with this weakness, and soothed it as much as she could, which made the story still full of surprises. The characters, both old and new, were as intriguing as ever, and the plots involving the long-known family of liars were really good. I feel like the second third of the story could do with a bit more of clues and intrigue, but that's just me. Overall, the story is as well built as the first one in terms of consistency. But I do have a big caveat:

Rosemary

 

This could be just me playing with my frustrated expectations, but I do feel like Rosemary deserved a better plot. I mean, it's The Sinclair Family we are talking about, I don't believe she just died on an accident. Her presence could be more meaningful, specially revolving around her motives to visit Carrie. Even if she just died like that, even if this is really her only motive, to look out for her sister, I feel like this wasn't developed enough. It should be brought up more during the chapters. But sorry Lockhart, the only way to redeem yourself here is to write a third book, a prequel where we learn the origins of Harris and Tipper and how they were the real guilty ones behind Rosemary's death. You just have to do it, or I won't raise my rating on this book on my next reread.

Again, I think Lockhart gives us mystery and suspense done right. And this is a great expansion upon the first novel, maybe with a few hiccups towards the middle and in the need of a little more development here and there. It is, ultimately, worth reading if you liked the first book.

Now, how long do you guys think she'll take before deciding to write another prequel? I don't want to reread this too much before she releases it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexism

dalek_caan's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I loved this book almost as much as I loved We Were Liars. I was really impressed by the author's ability to tell a story just as captivating as the previous book, in a prequel no less. I would definitely recommend this book BUT I recommend reading the other book first because this book will spoil We Were Liars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

Minor: Fatphobia

luananki's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

i had a lot more fun with family of liars than i expected to have. 
i was so wrapped up in the story and am glad i decided to give the sequel a chance

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Murder, Addiction, and Grief

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Suicide, and Classism

safety_pin's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child death, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcohol and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Outing

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

This was good. I really didn’t know what to expect when I went into this but I enjoyed it. The writing style is odd like we were  liars were, but after a while you just get used to how it’s written. I honestly really like the main character and she did nothing wrong I mean she did but I forgive her. This also made me tear up at the end. I think if you enjoyed we were liars you should pick this up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Violence, Murder, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

mussheftigpissen's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

So first of all i loved ,,we were liars“ and was so hyped for this prequel. All in all i can say i am bit disappointed. The idea of the plot was very good and i was totally hyped for the plot twist, but there wasnt a really plot twist?! I was hoping for more…but nevermind. The vibes and the writing style were just a chefs kiss 🤌 i really like the past of the sinclair family, but i was hoping for more deeper secrets and more shocking secrets. The mystery thing wasnt there and it was also kinda boring, so i am disappointed and hoping for more…i still cried tho because of rosmary and her bond with clair bc her leaving was the most hurtful part…

Not all pain is worth it, 
Some pain is just pain

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder

franchesqua_levi's review

dark emotional sad 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

5.0

I read we were liars at the start of this year, it was the book that got me out of my reading slump that lasted years, so of course I had to read the prequel. 

We were liars made me cry so much and for some reason I thought family of liars was basically going to be a copy and paste of we were liars. I was so wrong. This book made me so angry with it that I wanted to toss the book across my room. For the past week, all you could hear coming from my room was, "NO" "HOW DARE YOU!!?" And a lot of screaming. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel something, but someone who isn't much of a crier. 

I'm not vey good with trigger warnings, but I would say that some of the main ones are rape and death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Murder, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Homophobia, and Self harm