Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

18 reviews

mrsjburgin's review against another edition

funny reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book will mess you up and set you back again like Evermore by Taylor Swift. Do not plan anything after hour five. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Self harm, Child death, Death, and Mental illness

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Dementia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Self harm

coffeekitaab's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Writing this in 2024, it is so strange to have relived Covid-19 through this book. A nostalgia when reading about how life generally, the way we lived it - even if we did not contract the virus itself - and the varying attitudes around the virus around the world, the medical staff who saved us, the loved ones we lost - it was a definite struggle and very difficult to carry on at times (only because of Picoult being a favourite author did I persevere). As always, this one packed a punch. There is a description towards the end, describing life during covid and how it felt everyone was holding their breath - a desperate need for a gasp - which no one released which felt/feels very true in hindsight. I'm not sure if reading this 2-3 years ago would have changed the experience I had today (and in what sense that would be) but in a way, I am glad it has been catalogued by Picoult. It is so easy to forget the time the world shutdown, especially as we are creatures of nature, rushing back to the slog and race of working life, trains now running and borders are now open, the time you spend an hour working overtime is an hour lost spending time with loved ones -  the small print should always be highlighted - remember what matters. My love for JP continues to grow with each book I read. Please do check trigger warnings before picking this up. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jennipea382's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Dementia, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Sexual content

stephmcoakley's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Classism, Death of parent, Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

abicaro17's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

Diana is a complex and reflective character. Despite doing some choice things throughout the book, her reflection and inner turmoil creates a space to forgive some of her poor decisions. Given that this book basically reflects current and still changing events, it was well written and clearly well researched. It flows with facts and anecdotes from real life experiences. It was a beautiful (if not slightly triggering) book about a fictional person experiencing the trauma of current events. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Confinement, Dementia, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

britnidudley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Dementia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Self harm

sarahflanders's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted sad 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death of parent, Dementia, and Medical content

moettel98's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

Get ready to feel every feeling imaginable while reading this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Self harm, Mental illness, Vomit, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Dementia, Dysphoria, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Confinement, Grief, and Medical trauma

bre88's review

adventurous emotional reflective slow-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

2.25

While some parts were try hard,  the first half of the book was mostly enjoyable. The second half was boring, predictable and incredibly heavy handed. I value the reasons why this book was written and how the author illuminates the stories of Covid survivors and first responders during the pandemic. But wow the whole thing devolved into a Hallmark movie and not even one with top billing…we are talking about a random mid year offering with non union actors. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying, Colonisation, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Outing