Reviews tagging 'Grief'

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

106 reviews

sophia_2309's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

sarahshock's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is one of the best books I've ever read. 10/10 recommended!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Blood, Self harm, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Grief, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Drug use, Alcohol, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

summersquash01's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So I adored the book. I loved it so much, i started crying in the end.

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE FINNY 😭

Laura nowlin has a very basic style of writing, however i loved it. Just a small criticism: the plot was way too slow. In my opinion,

the breakup with Jamie should’ve been way earlier than in the last 150 pages or smth

to actually let the relationship between autumn and finny flourish. 
The beginning was interesting, but the middle was quite boring, the end took me by surprise tho. 
Overall, i loved the book, and i read the second one (if only i had told her) in a day or so. Absolutely adored it. Thank you for blessing me with this masterpiece. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death, Alcohol, Car accident, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Car accident, Child death, Gore, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death, and Grief

rubbercip's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

you know how the book is going to end from the beginning, and yet it still made me upset. i liked that it felt realistic, but it was a bit repetitive at points. i also Hate that she calls him finny like it bothers me to my core. otherwise yeah it was sad the entire time and exactly what i expected

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Alcohol

craigem26's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Even though it foreshadowed what will happen in chapter one, it is still very heartbreaking when it happens. It wasn’t as sad as I was expecting it to be. However, I think since the character was well written I did feel some grief towards the character. I am looking forward to the second book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death

neliasbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Self harm, Death, and Grief

mar_pookiebear's review against another edition

lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book i just felt like the girl was stuck with jamie for too long like ew.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

gilly0298's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

I thought the book drew out the high school experience well but it is a little slow to read about. The author does not minimize the mental health aspects which I enjoyed. The emotional  appeal was definitely the most poignant part of the book not character development or plot. 

Personally not a fan of the sudden ending. I do liked that we see Autumn's grief, suicide attempt, and experience after. However, the possibility of pregnancy left open ended seems like lazy writing to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Forced institutionalization

Divorce

julynn14's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

It was a pretty easy read and I felt like I knew the characters pretty quickly. The ending hit me hard. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abortion, Bullying, Classism, and Cursing

amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cursing, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Vomit, and Bullying