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alexiconic's review
- 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
3.75
Because the representation of OCD in this book is really, really good. It is confronting to see thought spirals portrayed so well. And it was great to see this without any blemish or polish. For my taste, however, too much of the book was about the continuing and worsening spirals, and the (sometimes a little obnoxious) existential wondering included. I guess that’s where this is a YA novel and I am no longer a teen, but it’s a little dramatic. It also made the (at most 50 pages-long) realizations and “recovery” too sudden, too rushed, and unfortunately the book lost some strength here. Yes, it is difficult to write how taking medication regularly will suddenly improve your mental health. But if 3/4ths of the book have been about the hell of the symptoms and the worries about taking meds, it would have been nice to have a bit more analysis. And while the end resonated with my own mental health experiences, it seems counterintuitive and is not often seen and that is exactly why I would have loved for the last 10 pages to last a bit longer.
I just wanted a bit more time in the story. A bit more time for the cool sidekicks. A bit more time for the OCD and for recovery. In the end, though, isn't that also a good sign?
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Medical trauma, Self harm, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Body horror, and Blood
violetmysteries723's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Aza is a very passive main character, things seem to happen to and around her instead of because of her. Part of this seems to be because of her struggles with mental health, but she also doesn't actively move the plot forward when she has good mental health days. I empathize with her because it's clear that she doesn't choose to think and behave the way that she does, but she also struggles so much with basic things
Daisy is annoying and unlikable at best, and a two-faced jerk at worst. The friendship arc between Aza and Daisy throughout the book is more of a line than an arc.
Emotionally, none of these main characters felt like real people to me. Aza says she's upset about her mental health struggles, but her actions don't reflect that feeling. Daisy is one-note in every single scene, which is perhaps just her personality, but it would have been nice to see a little emotion from her at some point
Overall, I don't regret reading this book, but I do regret buying a physical copy. I pre-ordered a signed copy of the book back in the day which I still think is cool, I just wish it was a signed copy of a book I will actually want to read more than once.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Bullying
Minor: Grief, Blood, and Classism
lindseyrenee's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Grief
corriejn's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Medical content, Car accident, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
arrowlyn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Grief
maria_borges1507's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Abandonment, Car accident, Grief, Blood, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
camiandkitread's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I’m so moved by “Turtles All The Way Down” that I can’t write an accurate review of the plot and characters.
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, and Grief
bleach226's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Graphic: Self harm and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Car accident, Grief, and Death of parent
real_vivi's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident