Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Birthday by Meredith Russo

14 reviews

kjgreen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

I love that this book has been written but as much as a crave trans rep, this felt like a book I want others to read rather than one to read myself as it hit a little too close to home. The pronoun switch however is beautiful to read and the chosen family element of Eric and Morgan’s relationship is heartwarming. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia

Minor: Domestic abuse

bumblemee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book broke me a little, but also did an okay job of picking up the pieces. Please check the content warnings before reading this book, I think there are a lot of people who will have a harder time reading this book than I did.
This book felt very real, which might sound vague, but I don't know how to describe it better. Morgan and Eric are great characters and their friendship - or rather their journey from friends to lovers - was heartwarming to read. (Eric reminded me of Samwise Gamgee btw, which made me like him even more.) Reading Morgans chapters was very hard sometimes, I wanted to enter the book and be there for her so bad sometimes. If you want to read a book that contains a lot of trans joy, this one is not the right pick for you, even though the ending is hopeful. There is a lot of transphobia, internalized and otherwise and a lot of self-hatred and suffering.

Quick note: Since first writing this review, it came to my attention that there apparently is controvercy around Meredith Russo and her being abusive towards her ex partner. So if you decide to read this, maybe think about getting it from a library or buying it secondhand or something.

Kurze Anmerkung: Es werden teilweise suboptimale Worte verwendet, wie z.B. Geschlechtsumwandlung statt Geschlechtsangleichung. Idk wie das auf Englisch gehändelt wurde, daher dieser Zusatz auf Deutsch. Weiß nicht, warum diese Entscheidung so getroffen wurde, eventuell weil das beim Übersetzungsprozess nicht aufgefallen ist oder vllt auch einfach, weil das ein Wort ist, das zu der Zeit passt, in der das Buch spielt. So oder so finde ich, das hätte so nicht passieren sollen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia

Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

vagaybond's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Racism, Suicide, Addiction, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

howard's review against another edition

5.0

with the YA i've been reading lately it's easy to forget how brutal life can be in high school. this is hard hitting and doesn't pull any punches but at the same time is incredibly tender and sweet. i cried tears of pure joy when Morgan comes out to Eric and his perception of her immediately shifts. i really liked the time constraint of the book and only seeing them once a year, how things need time to change. G-d i wanna hug these kids.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse

bibisuzanne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

auteaandtales's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse

chris_reads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Dysphoria, Grief, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, and Homophobia

Minor: Domestic abuse, Cancer, and Death of parent

zorii's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

Beautiful book. Amazing. Made me cry twice. A great love story about two friends growing up and falling in love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

kathrinellis's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective tense fast-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

there’s nothing I would change about the way this touching story is told!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

eems_madeline's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia