Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

53 reviews

nataliebootlah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

Joseph Carter seems too good to be true. He’s kind, sophisticated, mature, a man with a career, and of course, handsome. But when three women are stood up on Valentine’s Day, all by Joseph Carter, he might be too good to be true indeed. 

To avoid any spoilers, I’ll keep my review vague. This was a slow burning romantic-mystery, if that’s even a genre, with its twists and turns. I was a bit proud of myself when I figured some stuff out before it was served to me on a silver platter (like it normally is). 

If you’re into straightforward, predictable romance, this book probably isn’t for you. But if you enjoy guessing what’s going to happen next with some romance intertwined, I’d give it a read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content, Dementia, and Miscarriage

sarahkate22's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Car accident, Dementia, Sexual harassment, Grief, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

katrinaward's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Mental illness

b_harrington's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

[spoilers, kinda] 

The structure of this book is fabulous. The layering of the three stories is so clever. I really enjoyed reading it, I devoured it in a day! 

I love the accuracy in the description of grief. I enjoyed the inclusion of the female tree surgeon, the older gay couple’s story, and the fact O’Leary didn’t shy away from topics like sexual harassment, miscarriage, and dementia. I adored AJ’s character, and I think it’s a testament to O’Leary’s writing that none of the side characters felt flat or pointless. The mention of Covid times was beautifully handled too. 

I just love happy endings!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Death, Sexual harassment, Grief, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Car accident

karin_gorham's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

sophieeleri's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Dementia, Mental illness, Death, and Car accident

hmatt's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

Another more-than-meets-the-eye love story by Beth O'Leary. I described her style in my review of The Road Trip, as "a hilariously-told and very cute romance with complex characters and a slightly ridiculous premise", which mostly holds true for this novel as well. I'll say that this story is a bit more solemn, though, and deals with some heavier topics. I didn't quite connect with the characters as much as I have in some of her other books - I wish some of the POV storylines had been more fleshed out, I think this would have helped. But that's sort of what you get when you've got 3-4 main characters in an average-sized novel, so.

My CWs contain plot spoilers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage, Dementia, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death of parent, Stalking, and Pregnancy

rrubin97's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

The story of three women who all love the same man. They are intertwined and told from each woman’s perspective. Miranda was my favorite - the woman tree surgeon was a fun character

I did figure out early on the twist that there were different  timelines - I just had predicted two instead of three. I’m a bit disappointed the climactic confrontation never came :) it was sweet how the stories played out with Jane and carter though<\spoiler>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident

Moderate: Grief and Mental illness

Minor: Miscarriage

kathshiroma's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Mental illness, Stalking, Death, and Self harm

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Sexism

lauramparis's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Dementia, Sexism, Death, Self harm, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Minor: Abandonment, Car accident, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Death of parent