Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills

18 reviews

lore_1703's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Overall: This book leaves me with some ‘what ifs’. There were a couple of amazing storylines and cute moments between the mmc & fmc, which made me enjoy this book. Other times I questioned the actions and motives of the main characters. The 13 reasons why vibe is strong with this one. I do enjoy a bit more dark or angsty high school story but this one was just not it for me. 

Reasons to bump this up your TBR: This book is for you if you don’t mind reading an angsty high school romance book. The love aspect of the story is enjoyable and I did like the honesty between the main characters. There was no miscommunication for example, which is a huge plus for me. 

Knox is a great mmc. He’s in my opinion a golden retriever boy wearing the ‘bad boy’ mask. He is very patient towards Ava and gives her all the respect and empathy she needs. 

Reasons to bump this down your TBR: With the title Dear Ava I expected many more letters and secret admirer cuteness. I would have loved to see more poems or texts where Ava and her secret-love interest talk, trust each other and feed their friendship. 

Some of the dialogue between Ava and Knox feels very ‘young’. 

The ending and epilogues felt rushed. The story is  slow paced and the tempo picks up a bit too much in the last 15% of the book. One epilogue would have been enough for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Suicide

domnicmtz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Drug use

poupimali's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

This was absolutely not what I was expected.
This is not just a light and smooth story about texts and letters exchanged with a secret admirer.
Yes you have that and this is cute
BUT 
This talks about serious triggers warning (rape, drugs and intoxication, mental health issues, suicide).
There is a HEA. This is a college romance but there are really heavy subjects all along.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent

madlove02's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

baileyt2424's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Suicide, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Sexism

gperez11's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual assault

culzean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

sam019's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

lilli0311's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Addiction, Violence, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Suicide, Rape, Mental illness, and Child abuse

bhopeu's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Abandonment, Death, Suicide, Mental illness, and Self harm