Reviews with content warning for Suicide - All our hidden gifts - La Gouvernante

When Maeve finds an old tarot deck while cleaning out a cupboard during detention, she discovers that she has a natural talent for readings. Maeve finally starts to feel like she’s found her ‘thing’, that is until she does a reading for her ex-best friend Lily. When Lily doesn’t turn up at school on Monday, Maeve knows that this isn’t a case that the police can solve.

~Review~

This story has absolutely everything that I love in a book; witches, realistic and flawed characters, queer rep, folklore, witty dialogue, I could go on…

I absolutely loved Maeve as a protagonist. I thought she was incredibly believable as a character I understood why she made the choices she did, even if I didn’t think they were the right ones. There’s also a lovely found family that is starting to develop and I’m hoping that will be explored more in the second book.

The queer rep in this book is beautifully done. I loved how Roe’s journey with his gender identity is blended throughout the story and doesn’t feel like it’s just been shoved in as an afterthought.

I would say this is a [urban] fantasy book but it felt so real: the characters and their choices, the relationships, and probably most interesting of all, the villain. In my opinion, there is nothing scary than I villain that posses no magic (Gaston from Beauty and the Beast is he scariest Disney villain because he is just a man and people like him actually exist). The villain in this book feels very much like that, his backwards and harmful views are views that people actually hold and they are dangerous and scary.

I loved the writing style and couldn’t put the us book down. It’s a perfect balanced and witty, intense, and beautiful and I can’t wait to the sequel.

Content Warnings

beforeviolets's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-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? Yes

4.5

Thank you so much to Candlewick Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Such an absolute blast from start to finish! I don't know how I hadn't heard of this book!

Things I loved:
- The (accurate!) use of tarot as a storytelling tool and driving force throughout the book
- Wonderful illustrations and cover design done by tarot deck illustrators
- Our show-stopping non-binary love interest, Roe! I love Roe SO MUCH!
- The details of the magic/witchcraft! Such an intricate application of magical realism!
- Diverse side characters and the focus on the queer and POC members of the cast
- The fact that we're gonna get a sequel so we get to experience even more of this world!

TW:

vomit, religious bigotry, hate crimes, homophobia, transphobia, suicide mention (past)*, suicide ideation (present)*, self harm (present)*, blood, injury, medical content, toxic friendships, bullying, alcohol consumption

*it's like... in a magical sacrifice way, not a mentally ill way

Content Warnings

cyan_altaria's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is wonderful. I liked how the magic was slowly woven into the story, and how real the characters seemed. The characters were all likeable, even with their flaws (except for Aaron). I would recommend this book to anyone who likes magic, witchcraft, lgbtqia+, or realistic characters.

Content Warnings

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

This was a quick read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The magic was interesting, and I loved the chemistry between Maeve, Fiona, and Roe. They honestly made the book for me. And I can't wait to see what comes next!

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

lapis's review against another edition

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dark hopeful reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

whatellisreadnext's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue 4⭐

"𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

Maeve Chamber's threw a shoe at her teacher, so now she's stuck cleaning out the Chokey as punishment. It's a storage cupboard, full to the brim with old dusty items, this is were she finds the tarot cards.

This book was just great. It had everything you want from a witchy coming of age story. If you love a YA, that's funny and dark and full to the brim with diverse characters, you need to grab yourself this book.

There was never a moment reading this where I was bored. It is absolutely full to the brim with amazing characters and witchy goings on. Throughout the book Maeve is dating Roe, who is just coming out as non binary, her sister is gay and a her best friend Fiona is Filipino. The book centres around fighting back against an extremely closeminded and aggressive cult, whilst also trying to hunt down Lily, Maeve's old best friend who goes missing.

Although Maeve came across as very naive in parts, she is very self aware; even when she is self sabotaging, she knows it. She has a big heart and just wants her friends and family to be happy.

I loved this story, so much so that I ended up sending both my friends Jen and Rosie a copy each, because they both love witchy books as much as I do. I think there is going to be a sequel which I'm super excited for, I can't wait to be back with these characters again. I think if you loved Truly Devious and The Ravens, you're going to enjoy this one too💃

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