Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

131 reviews

lia_mills's review

reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

As a mystery story - this isn't really a mystery story, and you're going to be disappointed if you treat it as one. 

As a romance story - I found it kind of unsatisfying, but I think this may have been part of the point. 

As a story about friendship - I think it works. Both Aza and Daisy seem likeable but also like they would be difficult to have as a best friend, for different reasons, and the book explores this dynamic in a relatively interesting way. 

As a story about obsessive-compulsive disorder and germaphobia - it really works, and this is clearly where the focus lies. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Grief

singerscientist's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Self harm

canessadawn's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.25

I read this book when it first came out in 2017 and again in Apr 2024 in anticipation of the new HBO release. When it first came out I was living alone for the first time, a freshman in college, had just broken up with my first love- I had a completely different lens. This most recent read, I think I finally *got* it. A lot of this book is really heavy, but it’s realistic. The ending is

mildly hopeful, but again, so relatable as someone who has lived just enough life to know that it does get better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Car accident, Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content

Minor: Vomit

mckiheather's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Abandonment

Minor: Medical content, Car accident, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

kim_lommaert's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Car accident, Blood, and Vomit

coco6356's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Car accident

eggedagain's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense 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: Death of parent, Car accident, Mental illness, Grief, and Medical content

amschelly153's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Grief, and Death of parent

dreamcat's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

Slow start and middle, but by 3/4 of the way through, I was invested. The conversations are unrealistic. I've never met people who quote poetry as much as these characters do - and it's almost EVERY character. But the metaphors are beautiful and touching and I felt Aza's anxiety and OCD was portrayed well. The missing billionaire seemed more like an unnecessary side plot; especially when Aza herself says "no, mom - my worsening mental health has had nothing to do with the money." So... Why is this a part of the book if it has no influence on your mental health? The whole mystery didn't actually seem to affect Aza at all. It just gave her a reason to have a boy crisis. Overall: beautiful metaphors and great portrayal of anxiety. Not much plot or realism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Car accident, Self harm, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Vomit

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

illy_'s review

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

I absolutely love this book. I've read it once two years ago in one sitting (I never do that) and was absolutely sobbing by the end. I re-read it now for an article I wrote about the upcoming movie. Again, made me cry. It's the perfect book for different aspects in life. A real John Green tearjerker

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Dysphoria, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident