Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Chlorine

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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Chlorine by Jade Song

54 reviews

amaia92's review against another edition

I might pick this up again in the future and learn how it end but for now I just can’t take more of the hormone fuelled teenagers. I think the concept of swimmers and mermaids plus being different in terms of culture and the whole obsession of swimming above all else are all really interesting concept that I want to read on about but the book is just soooo heavy with sexual hormonal, puberty stuff and I get that it’s a coming of age story but it’s a little much for me 😅

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pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense

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

CW: Depictions and descriptions of self harm & body horror, racism, emotional, physical, and verbal abuse, sexual assault, medical content, toxic relationship w/ adult, inappropriate relations with an adult; concussion; mention & depictions of an eating disorder; suicidal thoughts.

I received the audiobook from Libro.fm for review. All opinions are my own.

Chlorine is not a tame book whatsoever. If you've been in the swimming world especially as a student athlete, you'll relate to Ren's story of the pressure that comes with wanting to be the best and when the adults around you are the abusers. I enjoyed the writing, storytelling, and especially the dual POV of Cathy and Ren.

Catherine Ho does a fantastic job with Ren's voice and adding the horror elements when necessary.

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taikafaitau's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

What the fuck did I just read.

Oddly satisfying. Definitely recommend listening to Faye Wong while reading.

Heartbreaking, horror, coming of age, thought-provoking.

I could see this being a 5-star read for others. It is well written and beautiful storytelling.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath.

I might come back and change the rating after I’ve chewed on this one. Makes me wish I was in a book club.

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bowelhaus's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

This was such a fantastic concept but I don’t think it was executed very well. The body horror was so elegantly done and so horrifying, and I love the concept of girlhood as horror and self-transformation.

However, all of the characters’ and the way they interacted and spoke fell flat. There were a lot of moments where the way the speaker spoke felt corny or cliche which shocked me since this concept is so unique. I just couldn’t see the through line.

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searedfish's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-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

2.5

I really wish I had liked this but no I didn’t

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szuum's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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ajiinaaa's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

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

3.0

the narrative wasn't cohesive, the writing wasn't my favorite, and the dialogue felt unnatural. i think i wanted more of a revenge story but we didn't really get that.

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ems_bean's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

I think I am still trying to get my mind around what I just read. So I am giving it 4 stars, I think?

At the start of this book you meet Ren Yu, a girl that born for the water. It starts with a love for mermaids and joining the swim team, it then slowly evolves into something else. This is a coming of age story that deals with tons of problems and pressures of being a teenage girl, both physically and mentally.

This book doesn’t have tons of dialogue but that could be by design Ren is so obsessed and driven she doesn’t really need anyone else. Even though she does have a best friend in Cathy who she tolerates best among everyone. As you read it is very easy to get deeper up into her all in mentality and slow entry into reality of becoming a mermaid.

Another really good novel by a debut author!

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