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Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide
- to cry
- emotional stories
- unexpected friendships
- existentialism
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Death of parent
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Hands down one of the best books I've read. The quotes are just beautiful and the story its so heartfelt, sad, bittersweet, nostalgic.
I felt so connected to the characters. The world everything was real and raw but beautiful.
I don't think I'll be the same after reading this book.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Now, do not let the happy summer cover fool you into thinking this book is a fun light read. Absolutely not! This is a dark, tense, triggering book with lots of traumatic events being mentioned. Please be warned that there are talks of self-harm, drug usage, abuse (physical and mental), etc. Please be wary of this when you read the book because I went into this book completely blind and found it very difficult to read... because I was literally sobbing during multiple points reading this. I cried a total of 6 times, by the way. Rude of you, Freddy...I was so excited to read your work, and you traumatized me.
I am not usually a big fan of literary fiction novels, but I wanted to read this book because I have heard nothing but good things about Fredrick Backman’s writing. Sad to say that I own five of his books that have been left unread on my shelves. Not for long, though, because I am absolutely obsessed with his writing and now would read anything he writes... even his grocery list.
I was impressed with some of the quotes that I read in this book. One quote that made me laugh was, “rich people love tiny food. Everything else should be big, except for taxes and sandwiches.” We love a quote dragging the rich….right? Of course we do.
Even though this is not a genre that I normally love to read, I have to say that I was sucked into the story immediately just based on how good the writing was. I found myself invested in Louisa and her struggles. I felt the power the painting had over her and wanted to know the real story of the group of friends as well. This book was powerful in showing the struggles of friendships, how you have to believe in yourself to accomplish your goals, and how you’re never really alone as long as you have love in your heart.
When the artist C. Jat dies he leaves Louisa the painting as his final wish, which made me cry immediately. He knew that Louisa would love having that painting, and selling it would change her life. It was a beautiful act of love for someone he just met, and it really touched me to read about it. Ted, one of C. Jat’s oldest friends help Louisa with the painting by telling her how the painting came to be and bringing her to his hometown.
I don’t want to spoil the end of this book because you really should read it for yourself, but just know that this book will touch you in ways that make you feel vulnerable and seen. I have sadly related to some of the events that happened in this book, so those moments felt very precious to me. I also was scared to death when they left the painting on the train and when Ted got robbed! Might as well call yourself a thriller writer, Freddy. My heart was racing! To end my review, I would just like to say Fredrick, after reading your writing, “I love you, and I trust you.”
Thank you to Netgalley + Simon and Schuster for the eARC of this novel!
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide