Reviews - Everyone I Know is Dying

273 reviews for:

Everyone I Know is Dying

Emily Slapper

3.44 AVERAGE

mollydarby's review against another edition

3.75

emotional

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

readingrunner's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

tavea's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

bannerheldhigh's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Iris is a very difficult character. Shortly after she achieves the thing she's been striving for and thinking it would finally, finally make her happy, Iris has a complete breakdown. Mentally and physically she is broken and completely exhausted. For Iris, life is a series of questions, second guesses and over-analysing of everything she and everyone around her does. The author has done a fantastic job of putting us in Iris' head. You feel the anxiety and concern she harbours about even the most minute detail of her day. This is also what makes Iris incredibly hard for me to like - she is frankly calculating and awful to the people around her.
After quitting her job and essentially rotting in bed in a complete stupor of depression she tries to rise out of it but finds that all the things she's built her life around just don't mean what they used to, to her. Maybe Iris has been seeking the wrong thing all along?
It's brilliantly written and paints a portrait of someone suffering through a serious mental health crisis well but I did find this, at times, a challenging read and I'd be wary of recommending this to people who may find the subject matter triggering

jeanlikejeans's review against another edition

4.5

Really interesting, complicated character. Figuring out how I feel about her and her actions, and the ending. Well written to the point where I wasn’t focused on the writing, just the story, which was a good sign

Content Warnings

princessemily's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Everyone I Know Is Dying isn’t an easy read emotionally, but it’s an incredibly powerful one. The main character is, honestly, absolutely insufferable. She’s selfish, self-sabotaging, and constantly making things worse for herself. I completely understand why some people would hate her. But unfortunately, I saw a lot of myself in her, and that made it hit even harder.

There’s something really uncomfortable about reading a character who feels like the worst version of you. The parts you don’t talk about. The thoughts you pretend you don’t have. Her self-destructive behaviour, the way she handles (or doesn’t handle) grief, the way she lashes out while secretly aching to be loved. It all felt too familiar at times.

One of the most painful parts for me was the quiet grief of getting what you thought you wanted and feeling absolutely nothing. Iris gets the promotion, the recognition, the ‘success’ she’s been chasing, and it only makes her feel more hollow. That kind of emptiness is rarely talked about, and it was portrayed so honestly here.

This isn’t a book that offers a tidy resolution or tries to make her likeable. It’s messy and raw and honest, and that’s what makes it brilliant. It reminded me that not all stories about survival have to be pretty. Sometimes it’s just about getting through the day.

Content Warnings