Tag Archives: Child Abuse & Neglect

This page lists books that contain trigger warnings for the depiction of child abuse and neglect, including emotional, verbal, psychological and physical abuse, and gaslighting.

For child sexual abuse, see Paedophilia & CSA.

A Shot at Normal by Marisa Reichardt

Juniper Jade’s parents are hippies. They didn’t attend the first Woodstock, but they were there for the second one. The Jade family lives an all-organic homeschool lifestyle that means no plastics, no cell phones, and no vaccines. It isn’t exactly normal, but it’s the only thing Juniper has ever known. She doesn’t agree with her parents on everything, but she knows that to be in this family, you’ve got to stick to the rules. That is, until the unthinkable happens. Juniper contracts the measles and unknowingly passes the disease along, with tragic consequences. She is shell-shocked. June.. Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Discussions of antivaxxers and child neglect
  • Physical illness (measles)
  • Death of an infant

Adult Onset by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Mary-Rose MacKinnon–nicknamed MR or “Mister”–is a successful YA author who has made enough from her writing to semi-retire in her early 40s. She lives in a comfortable Toronto neighbourhood with her partner, Hilary, a busy theatre director, and their 2 young children, Matthew and Maggie, trying valiantly and often hilariously to balance her creative pursuits with domestic demands, and the various challenges that (mostly) solo parenting presents. As a child, Mary-Rose suffered from an illness, long since cured and “filed separately” in her mind. But as her… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Internalised racism
  • Homophobia & biphobia
  • Paedophilia & child sexual abuse (off-page)
  • Child abuse
  • Stillbirth (on-page)
  • Death of an infant
  • Animal death

Nate Plus One by Kevin van Whye

Nate Hargraves – stage-shy singer-songwriter – is totally stoked for his cousin’s wedding in South Africa, an all-expenses-paid trip of a lifetime. Until he finds out his sleazeball ex-boyfriend is also on the guest list. Jai Patel – hot-as-hell high school rock-god – has troubles too. His band’s lead singer has quit, just weeks before the gig that was meant to be their big break. When Nate saves the day by agreeing to sing with Jai’s band, Jai volunteers to be Nate’s plus-one to the wedding, and the stage is set for a summer of music, self-discovery, and simmering romantic tension. What could possibly go wrong . . . ?

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Homophobia
  • Racism & mentions of apartheid
  • Child abuse
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a parent
  • Animal death

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn—with maybe an explosion or two along the way. But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse & physical assault of a minor
  • Murder & mentions of public executions
  • Torture by acid mentioned (secondary character)
  • Explosions

The Butterfly Box by Santa Montefiore

Federica Campione adores her father. No matter that Ramon, a distinguished traveller and writer, spends months away from their home on the exotic Chilean coast; as soon as he’s back, his daughter has eyes for no one but him. When he gives her a magical box from Peru she believes he will always be there for her. As she grows to womanhood, Federica attempts to recapture that long-forgotten sense of security in the arms of the debonair Torquil Jensen. From the sanctuary of a seemingly perfect marriage, she embarks on a painful journey of self-discovery. But can Federica ever truly escape her gilded cage and learn the… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child neglect
  • Divorce
  • Infidelity
  • Toxic friendship

Beneath the Surface by Emily McIntire

We all have scars. Mine are hidden beneath ink and smiles, hard to see and easy to feel. But the most painful ones are deeper. Branded on my soul, reminding me of what I’ve lost. I’m broken. Sick. Disturbed. Then he shows up, and loves my jagged pieces. But monsters linger long after they’re gone, and sometimes you can’t outrun their shadows. No matter how much you ache to forget. We all have secrets. Mine are hidden beneath ink and lies, hard to find and easy to fake. But the most painful ones are bigger. Branded on my soul, reminding me of what I’ve lost. I’m an enigma. A mirage. A liar. Then I find her, and she loves my hidden… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Consensual nonconsensual (rape fantasy)
  • Sexual abuse of a minor & grooming
  • Abusive foster care experiences
  • Domestic abuse
  • Forced abortion
  • Self-harm
  • Drug use

Beneath the Stars by Emily McIntire

Alina Carson meets Chase Adams when she’s eleven years old, after he moves in down the street carrying nothing but a chip on his shoulder and dimples in his cheeks. Immediately she falls, loving him before she even knows what loving is. But becoming best friends with Chase’s little sister means that he’s off-limits, no matter how much their connection screams for something more. Chase never cared much for following the rules. Abandoned by everyone who was supposed to love him, he’s broken and insecure, choosing to push others away before they have a chance to hurt him. But there’s something about the girl with… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Foster care experiences recounted
  • Substance addiction
  • Death of a parent mentioned

Crossed by Emily McIntire

He is righteousness. She is sin. Father Cade Frédéric is a holy man. Brought up in the streets of Paris, he has dedicated his life to the church. But there’s a monster that lingers just beneath the surface. A sickness. One that bleeds darkness and feeds on the damned. When he’s tasked to become the priest in Festivalé, Vermont, a town both beautiful in architecture and riddled with despair, his sickness sings, demanding he rid the place of evil. Amaya Paquette is Festivalé’s beautiful mystery. She spends her days caring for her younger brother and her nights transforming into Esmeralda… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment & child neglect
  • Rape & sexual assault
  • Murder
  • Torture
  • Stalking

Twisted by Emily McIntire

Yasmin Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. So, when her beloved father falls ill, she’s determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Yasmin’s heart already belongs to someone else. A servant. A street rat. A man her father would never consider worthy. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Yasmin strikes a desperate deal with her father’s right-hand man, Julian, not realizing he has his own twisted agenda. Julian Faraci has one goal: become the most powerful man in… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic violence & child abuse mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Death from childbirth menttioned
  • Blood & gore depiction including emesis, graphic mutilation, and dead bodies
  • Murder
  • Graphic torture
  • Gun violence
  • Car accident (off-page)
  • Kidnapping
  • Whipping

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favoourite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape. Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment & child neglect mentioned
  • Anxiety & panic attacks (on-page)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Death of a parent recounted (off-page)