Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

34 reviews

mothie_girlie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Minor: Eating disorder

realityczar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Rape

Minor: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

edresbach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Grief, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Abandonment, and Gaslighting

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Stunning and startling in equal turn. I greatly admire how Knoll weaves the theme of sisterhood throughout, not in an icky "girl boss"/white feminism way but, rather, in a profound call to reconsider—to remember—the shared responsibility we hold to do better for each other. A true sucker punch of a novel, one that I'd think would pair well with A Tiny Upward Shove.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Rape, Child death, Cursing, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy and Eating disorder

ashkane's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, and Dysphoria

pollyem's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

“Law enforcement would rather we remember a dull man as brilliant than take a good hard look at the role they played in this absolute sideshow, and I am sick to death of watching them in their pressed shirts and cowboy boots, in their comfortable leather interview chairs, in hugely successful and critically acclaimed crime documentaries, talking about the intelligence and charm and wiliness of an ordinary misogynist."

This book is a peak behind the curtain into 'impossible grief'. Pamela loses her best-friend to someone whom reporters portray as a cunning, attractive man who used these skills to his advantage when women fell at his feet. This couldn't be further from the truth.
A page-turning dive into the misogyny towards victims and the discovery that there is no perfect way to be a victim. This is a fictionalised account of the story that is so often glossed over in the obsession with 'The Defendant'. The power of survivors and their hunger for truth and justice. 
Knoll's writing style was captivating, leaving me wanting to read on, even as rage boiled within me. If you want a read with a darker side, that will light a spark in your belly, this book could be for you.
To my fellow survivors, I see you.
Tread carefully.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Kidnapping, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Incest

oz2021's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Body horror, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

hannahduda's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Rape, Stalking, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Incest, Sexual content, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Blood, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Sexual assault

fancyjess_party's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Dementia, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Rape, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Homophobia, Grief, Body horror, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexism, and Violence

kyozacat's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, and Gaslighting