Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Pretending by Holly Bourne

13 reviews

readsbyhope's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

emilypopple's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Domestic abuse

ellamycroft's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

emcguire96's review

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

4.5

I devoured this book in a day. I loved April and her flaws - it made her human and I loved how she morphed into Gretel in front of my eyes. It was a 5* read until the final couple of chapters. I felt that there was a lot to tie up and it felt like an easy way out kind of ending from the author. Other than that, I loved it! Going to have a look at more Holly Bourne and get reading! Fans of Marian Keyes and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s more romance focused novels will love this!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders

lizaxwin's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-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

3.0

I‘m so ambivalent about this book. I really hated the FMC in like the first half of the book, but she got better and recognised her mistakes and everything. But… idk… her constant hate on other women made it kinda unpleasant nonetheless. I mean, why do we have the constant need to put other women down? Isn‘t it enough that men do that (which was basically the whole point of the book). Idk… the ending was OK. Yeah… definitely check trigger warnings for this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Violence

ccassidy98's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Rape, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol

ramreadsagain's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad 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

4.75

Flew through this in just 3 days. Major trigger warnings so do check those out before reading, this is not the book that the blurb would suggest! 

Hard hitting and difficult to read at times but oh so raw and real. I didn’t think much to Joshua, but April was such a relatable and well-written character. 

Brings up some important topics and thoughts about dating, who we present ourselves as, and the realities of se*ual as*ault and toxic masculinity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, and Misogyny

Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

clofle92's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

He said he was looking for a 'partner in crime' which everyone knows is shorthand for 'a woman who isn't real'.

April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can't seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry. 

If only April could be more like Gretel. 

Gretel is exactly what men want - she's a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems. 

The problem is, Gretel isn't real. And April is now claiming to be her. 

As soon as April starts 'being' Gretel, dating becomes much more fun - especially once she reels in the unsuspecting Joshua.

Finally, April is the one in control, but can she control her own feelings? And as she and Joshua grow closer, how long will she be able to keep pretending?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

theereaderscorner's review

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I think this may be the least stars I’ve ever given a Holly Bourne book!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship

booksandcat's review

dark emotional slow-paced

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

2.5

I didn't particularly like this book. I like what Holly Bourne was trying to do, I think, but I think this story got lost along the way. I also find myself skimming her writing but somehow it keeps me reading, so she gets 2.5 for that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence