Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Pack Up the Moon

I would give this book 10 stars if I can, and I’m glad I didn’t dnf (wanted to dnf cos i don’t deal well with sad books) because it’s such a good book!!!! This makes you cry one moment and laugh the next and cry again in an instance. PSA do not read this book outside of your home or risk looking a lil crazy. also prepare lots of tissue and maybe some ice pack for your swollen eyes (from all the crying). I was a sobbing mess reading this book and then laughing the next moment and then feeling warm and fuzzy. I don’t think I’ve read a book with such good character development in awhile. You can really see Josh’s grief and how he dealt with it and grow with it. And you can feel Josh’s and Lauren’s love for each other, and everyone else love for Josh. If anyone is thinking of reading this, yes you should and I don’t know what took me so long to read this book.

I just wanted to comment on how i felt it was perfect that Lauren was wrong about Josh and Sarah but maybe by some cosmic design (if one really believes in that) still brought Josh together with Rose. I think the way it ended with Lauren being wrong helped Josh moved (even more) forward in a way. and the way the book was structured made so much sense but also made it more heartbreaking: how josh chapters moves forward counting the months since Lauren’s death, while in the lauren chapters it moves backwards and showing us how she fell sick how she fell in love and how she grew as a person. absolutely heartbreaking with the contrast between the two pov.

Content Warnings

sarahmae531's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

What an emotional book. Sobbed through an entire chapter.
Loved the dual perspective and how Josh’s POV moved forward in time and Lauren’s moved back in time, showing us every part of their relationship in different ways. All of the characters were so lovable and had their flaws, making them seem so real.
Definitely not a feel good story, but I loved the way it all tied together, and the ending wasn’t depressing. Would definitely recommend if you want a book that will make you cry. Also the audiobook version was amazing, loved both of the narrators!

Content Warnings

maxfictional's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

3.75

I shed a tear. I was hoping for a sob, but I did get a tear.

This book, to me, provided more of a psychological understanding of grief than anything else. It showed the ups and downs of the grieving process. I truly enjoyed it.

I found it very realistic, which I can appreciate in a book. Death is cruel. You go through highs and lows while grieving. It never quite stops, but you learn how to move forward, while still never forgetting who/what you lost.

If you are a skeptic, you may have to suspend your belief for this one a little bit though. There are ever so slight supernatural occurrences here.

I just want to give Josh a hug. I also really enjoyed the autism representation. I think that it was represented in a respectful and accurate way, and it really translated over to how he grieved.

If you’re looking for a tear-jerker, this may be the one for you! It really did make me feel sad, and my heart felt low in my chest while reading some parts of this. I don’t recommend this for those who are triggered by terminal illness, loss of a loved one, death, grief, etc.

Guide to my ratings:
5 stars: flawless, hard to put down
4 stars: it was really good and memorable
3 stars: it was good/okay
2 stars: no redeeming qualities and forgettable
1 star: horrible, had no idea what was going on, boring!!!

Content Warnings

readwithserena's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

I think I cried 3 times in the first 100 pages and sobbed towards the end of the book. One of the main characters, Lauren, I think had kind of an annoying voice, but that didn’t get in the way of the story. I do maybe wish they were a little bit less of a perfect couple- I think the aftermath of grief would be more complex and interesting and… well… realistic. No human is perfect and so reading the grief of a “perfect” person and relationship is a little one dimensional.
All in all, if you need a good cry, this can do that for you.

Content Warnings

lnielsen's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad slow-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

4.0

Content Warnings

jlovesromance's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.25

Content Warnings

walskishere's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.0

I found this book fairly well written. I lost my dad at a young age and could relate to both Lauren, as well as Josh. I found so many similarities between this book and my life; it was almost abnormal. I think it also helped to heal or reassure me in ways related to my father's passing.

There were only a couple things that I wasn't a fan of: how stereotypical some of the characters were, and

the ending date with Sarah and Josh. I basically knew from the second Rose was introduced that she'd be his new love interest, which I was surprisingly okay with knowing. Usually that sort of obvious outing would annoy me more, but it didn't for whatever reason. Bonus points for tying in the roses at the medium reading that Josh went to. I love Gertie! I don't like how Sarah and Josh were built up to be this big thing and it seems like their relationship in the last chapter (the date) did a 180. I know they had differences throughout the whole book, but they were kind of pushed aside to build up the chemistry/relationship between them. What was the point if in the chapter where they test their compatibility, the annoyances/quirks/grievances came full force, more so than before.

I hope that one day I can have a love like Lauren and Joshua, except without the dying lol.

Content Warnings

More...