Tag Archives: Domestic Abuse & Violence

This page lists books that contain trigger warnings for the depiction of abusive relationships, and domestic and intimate partner abuse & violence. This includes all kinds of emotional, verbal, psychological, and physical abuse perpetrated by a spouse or intimate partner.

See also Child abuse & neglect, Rape, and Sexual assault.

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens

Stuck in a Production Assistant job and living at home with her parents after a painful breakup, thirty-one-year-old Chloe Fairway isn’t where she wants to be in life. The last thing she needs is to face the people who once voted her “most likely to succeed” at her upcoming ten-year college reunion. And she definitely doesn’t want to see her former best friend, Sean Adler, who is now a hotshot film director living the life Chloe dreamed of. Desperate to make a splash—and to save face in front of the man who might be the one that got away—she turns to a mysterious dating… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Abusive relationship recounted
  • Death of a parent recounted

The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas

When Rob decides the family needs to get away for the summer Jess is not convinced – won’t all the things they’re escaping be waiting for them on their return? But the kids are thrilled, and before long their idyllic little cottage, the sea air, and the feel of skin sticky from sun-cream, lollies and sand, begins to work its magic. Jess allows herself to sink into the holiday vibes – the family even make holiday friends. The summer heat intensifies Jess – ever vigilant – unearths a secret, a problem she’s sure she can help solve. But… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic abuse

The Fall of Koli by M.R. Carey

Koli has come a long way since being exiled from his small village of Mythen Rood. In his search for the fabled tech of the old times, he knew he’d be battling strange, terrible beasts and trees that move as fast as whips. But he has already encountered so much more than he bargained for. Now that Koli and his companions have found the source of the signal they’ve been following – the mysterious “Sword of Albion” – there is hope that their perilous journey will finally be worth something. Until they unearth terri… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism & transphobia
  • Domestic violence
  • Child abuse

Fables, Vol. 19: Snow White by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham

With Castle Dark now back in the hands of the Fables, mysteries both young and old begin to challenge the residents of Fabletown. Bigby and Stinky set off from Fabletown in Rose Red’s blood-fueled sports car to track down the two abducted cubs. Unfortunately for Snow White, besides suffering the trauma of having two of her cubs go missing, a long forgotten secret uncovered in Castle Dark threatens to sabotage her and Bigby’s marriage.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic abuse

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighbourhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend, Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what are his true motives? And what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic abuse
  • Incest
  • Attempted suicide recounted

Saving Meghan by D.J. Palmer

Can you love someone to death? Some would say Becky Gerard is a devoted mother and would do anything for her only child. Others claim she’s obsessed and can’t stop the vicious circle of finding a cure at her daughter’s expense. Fifteen-year-old Meghan has been in and out of hospitals with a plague of unexplained illnesses. But when the ailments take a sharp turn, doctors intervene and immediately suspect Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare behavioural disorder where the primary caretaker, typically the mother, seeks… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Infidelity
  • Domestic violence & child abuse
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Hospitalisation for medical treatment
  • Child with a terminal illness

Sanctuary by V.V. James

To Detective Maggie Knight, the death of Sanctuary’s star quarterback seems to be a tragic accident. Only, everyone knows his ex-girlfriend is the daughter of a witch – and she was there when he died. Then the rumours start Bereaved mother Abigail will stop at nothing until she has justice for her dead son. Her best friend Sarah will do everything in her power to protect her accused daughter. And both women share a secret that could shatter their lives. It falls to Maggie to prevent her investigation – and Sanctuary itself – from spiralling out of control.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Sexual assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Bullying

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination…if not for the curse. The Philippine locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won’t be next. A Hollywood film crew won’t be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide. Within minutes of… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Domestic violence mentioned
  • Alcoholism & alcohol abuse
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Murder
  • Gun violence
  • Plane crash mentioned
  • Colonialization & gentrification
  • Animal death mentioned (dog)
  • Animal hunting mentioned

The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston

No one would ever accuse Jace Berisha of having an easy life—considering her husband…you know…killed her. But that was then! Now she fights for mighty Viking gods with the spectacular and vicious Crows. But things are turning very bad, very quickly because a vengeful, ancient goddess has come into the world with just one thing on her mind—ending it. And the only way they can hope to stop her is if the Crows join forces with their one-time enemies, the Protectors. A Viking Clan created to do nothing but kill every Crow they see…. Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Forced marriage & domestic abuse
  • Cults

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

“Luke” Hamilton has always been sure that she’d never marry. She accepted that she would spend her life alone when she chose to live her life disguised as a man.
After working in a brothel for three years, Nora Macauley has lost all illusions about love. She no longer hopes for a man who will sweep her off her feet and take her away to begin a new, respectable life. But now they find themselves married and on the way to Oregon in a covered wagon, with two thousand miles ahead of them.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Rape & attempted rape
  • Sexual harassment
  • Domestic abuse
  • Miscarriage
  • Drowning