Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

7 reviews

alexisgarcia's review

funny reflective fast-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

3.5

i wasn’t the happiest with the ending of this, but the story and characters were very captivating 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Homophobia, Grief, and Cursing

extracelestial's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I know this book is decisive but I really enjoyed it. To me it reflected how much we, especially women, are raised to suppress and deprive ourselves, and how learning to live outside that mindset can be difficult and messy. A lot of the book was crude, but it felt honest to me, likely because I read a lot of romance and the explicit desire and lust felt like a small way Rachel was getting closer to appreciating her own body as she learned to regulate. I certainly don’t think this is for everyone, but it was the right amount of mess and transformation for me.

PS - It was incredible to read this book in December 2023, 60+ days into the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Some moments of confronting Zionism in the book feel otherworldly, knowing that these conversations have been happening for decades. I really felt for Rachel during the confrontation with Miriam’s mom— a real mourning for my Jewish friends who have had part of their identity/culture weaponized against them as they question Israeli occupation and speak up for Palestinian liberation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Body shaming, Biphobia, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Fatphobia

garynoplastie's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Dysphoria, and Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Incest

Minor: Biphobia, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Homophobia

ecn's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

If you like aimless and unlikeable characters, this one’s for you.

The MC was insufferable in all the wrong ways. I was hoping for growth but it felt like it was always entirely about how she grows for others - nothing within herself. 
Yet, I was still drawn to her story so I could see what happens  

The story felt real, but was also really disappointing. No characters made me care about them - I felt bad for Miriam, Rachel was simultaneously selfish and people pleasing, and all other characters were miserable side characters. Maybe the story wasn’t for me? Maybe I wanted more from everyone and it was too much? Maybe it was just too real of a story to feel satisfied.

The story is about sexuality, desire, and longing but it feels more accurate to say it’s a view of how hard it is to be gentle and caring for ourselves and others when it comes to our wanting. How can all parties remain unharmed when desperately grasping for things you want, deserve, and seemingly can’t have?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Biphobia, Bullying, and Eating disorder

navayiota's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective tense 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

4.75

although it was quite triggering, I still enjoyed this book. It helped me notice some issues I hadn't realised I had.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Incest, Outing, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Xenophobia

jessbrownette's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Grief, Fatphobia, Excrement, Body shaming, and Antisemitism

sebishop's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

This was a slow burn for about 200pages, and then 🔥, wow. I’ll be thinking on this story, this message, and especially the character Rachel, for many months to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Grief