Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

178 reviews

madelinemartin's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

For anyone dealing with changing jobs and burnout, this book is almost too relatable. 

The book juxtaposes the situation Cassie finds herself in and the surrealistic depiction of her mental health issues in sharp contrast to one another, providing a sinister air to the shady corporate dealings she is forced to do, and an edge of realism to her very asbtract mental health issues. The tone shifts as her issues worsen, and while there isn't a whole lot of plot, her spiral seems scarily, worryingly relatable.

While the way her thoughts and actions escalate at the end of the novel implies she is going to end her life, it could also be interpreted as choosing to embrace the black hole as a pathway to starting over, changing her reality — a new job, new city, or ending her complicated situationship.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sarahrosebooknook's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

aprillem's review

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

I enjoyed this book in the beginning; it was well written and I liked the overall tone. But the main character had absolutely no growth, no interests, no perspective beyond her misery. I relate to the congitive dissonance of having to go through the motions of life while witnessing endless daily tragedies, but there was no reflection beyond that. All we get from the main character is the sense that life is bleak and we have no control over any of it so what’s the point. 

None of the characters in the book were likeable, they literally all suck. The writing was good but it got a bit tedious and the black hole metaphor was very heavy handed. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Abortion

Minor: Suicide

murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I didn’t enjoy reading this book because it was so emotionally heavy, but Etter’s writing is exquisite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Pregnancy

Moderate: Abortion

theliterarylair's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

This was such a beautiful  reading experience with a perfect, heartbreaking ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Abortion

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, and Suicide

wild_rose_reads's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Suicide, and Abortion

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Infertility and Sexual content

brennasjohnson's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

My god, will someone please check on this author? Incredibly written and unique story but I don't think there was a single event in that book that wasn't devastating. (I was low-key into it) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abortion

laura_et's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion

Minor: Death

samanthamohun's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am still at a loss for words for how to describe this book but I think a really good place to start is: this book is heavy. I cannot stress this enough, but if you are struggling with depression, this may not be the book for you.

And that is because the author does an incredible job at describing what it’s like to struggle with depression. Cassie, our FMC, is followed by a black hole that she has known all her life. As the story progresses through several all too realistic horrors (like a deadly virus spreading through the world, a job that overworks her to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, a situationship that adds to that exhaustion, living in a high COL city & witnessing extreme disparities between wealth and class, no true support system, and a difficult relationship with her mom), her black hole gets larger and louder. 

I saw this book described as a capitalistic hellscape and that truly nails the story. This book looks at the game: what we have to do, who we have to be, to survive in a capitalist society at the sake of who we are. It’s dark and full of points that make you reflect on life and work and what is going on. 

I enjoyed this book so much and definitely recommend. The writing was engaging and broken up with several definitions, facts, and a black hole itself. If you’re considering, please check TWs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Abortion

tytrack99's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.5

I loved the way this book was set up with definitions and parts of her lives used to explain the words defined. I loved the separation of parts with black hole facts. I loved the small science sprinkled in here and there. I did not love the plot. I enjoyed the story, but it too until the last 50-100 pages for anything to truly happen. It took me way too long to finish this book bc of that. Overall, I did enjoy it tho.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Abortion