Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

24 reviews

_christinepaige's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Mental illness, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Addiction, and Suicide

kyrstin_p1989's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

3.5

This book is told in chapters that feel like snapshots into the world of two teenagers, Finny and Autumn. They are in love with each other but are unwilling or unable to admit it to themselves or the other. They are fated to love one another — their mothers have been best friends for their entire lives. The last third of this book I just knew it was building toward something bad, the book just gave off a vibe. While the last third also gives you a lot of good, it’s a bittersweet ending. For some reason, I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I thought I would. But I still liked them. The ending made me sad, but I didn’t cry. I’m not sure what to make of that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Child death, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

carmpum's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, and Car accident

Moderate: Bullying and Pregnancy

comegailaway's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.75

I have words. First of all, my initial reaction was to rate this 1 star because I was so angry … then I put it up to 2. I really want to rate it higher because I do genuinely think it’s a good book, at least for most of it. I love two characters secretly pining after each other and I love when one has been in love the whole time. I loved the characters, I love the story.. but the ending?? Don’t get me wrong, I am all for a tragic ending but holy cow. I understand that it is set up to be tragic from the get go. Even the title is “If He Had Been With Me” .. but it just felt cheap how quickly everything was wrapped up? I don’t know.. I just feel like if you wanted a tragic story, it could have been handled better. Then again, maybe it means it’s a really good book considering I was almost shaking with anger. I don’t know, maybe it just isn’t for me. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Minor: Vomit and Bullying

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

This was a solid read. It did a little too much hinting-to-the-end for me. Like I did read the beginning, friend. I know that we're headed somewhere traumatic, so I don't need a trillion reminders. But I did like that it captured the absolute messiness of high school and emotions and families. Felt a bit like it trailed off after the climax - like the end wasn't as strong. May read this author again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Grief, Infidelity, Car accident, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood

cass_booktok's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.25

"Finny?", "OH Autumn" my mother says, the smallest chapter in the book and it sent me in hysterics. My heart is shattered at the thought of losing your one true love within hours of declaring your love for them. I still have a lump in my throat. 

The book was overall a very sweet and nostalgic read, made me think of the way I used to be as a kid, I was very much like Autumn when I was younger, i felt like her and I was exactly like her, standing out without trying to stand out. I felt embarrassed for her with her wearing a tiara and I remembered that, that is exactly what I did, which is probably why I felt this way, she found herself in Finny and my heart just shattered at the end!!!

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Car accident, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death

Minor: Abandonment

karyan1's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit and Bullying

layla_reads2411's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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

5.0

I don’t know how to feel right now. Just omg this book! Then ending! I can’t just why did that have to happen. I’m not okay after that. This book was so good, and the characters are all very relatable and awesome. The writing is amazing and that ending was insane!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Minor: Mental illness, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Vomit

reader1292938484's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, and Child death

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Eating disorder, Car accident, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt

julienicole1106's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death, Vomit, Alcohol, Bullying, and Car accident

Minor: Child death and Miscarriage