Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

12 reviews

readbykristyn's review against another edition

The themes of depression and self harm were too much for Ms to handle in this moment. I would like to come back and finish this in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Mental illness

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Drug abuse

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

Somehow better than the first book.

I can't say I like the way Paxton was handled, as sometimes it seemed like the author believed his goth look to be as big of an issue as his abusive behaviours, and simply part of the problem, which I disagree with. But I liked the way she wrote depression and anxiety, and the nuanced way they were represented in Tully and Mara. The most interesting part was Dorothy's past. I simply couldn't stop reading once I got to that part. I would watch a whole spin off movie about what she went through. I loved the Netflix adaptation, but wow I'm disappointed by the way they handled her return. This was infinitely better. It's understandable cause of the time restraints of shows, but it still hurts to see such a major part missing. Hannah did an incredible job at humanising her. And I loved the ending. All the little details, so masterfully crafted. A rollercoaster of a story. And I wish we would have seen more of Raphael! He was so charming and my heart broke at his death. I felt so bad for Dorothy and him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Confinement, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, Medical content, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Terminal illness

Minor: Antisemitism and Vomit

sarah_amy's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

2.5

Love Kristin Hannah's writing and found it as easy to connect to the characters again as I did in Firefly Lane. However, this felt like an unnecessary sequel. Felt like it was mostly about grief after the events from the previous story and the other main event was dragged out. I wish there were a few more new faces that we got to know and more that happened outside of the grief. Did enjoy the character development of Cloud/Dorothy though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Medical content, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Grief, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Love Kristin Hannah's writing and found it as easy to connect to the characters again as I did in Firefly Lane. However, this felt like an unnecessary sequel. Felt like it was mostly about grief after the events from the previous story and the other main event was dragged out. I wish there were a few more new faces that we got to know and more that happened outside of the grief. Did enjoy the character development of Cloud/Dorothy though.

gabbynasty's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-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

Graphic: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Addiction, Car accident, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcoholism, Rape, and Suicide attempt

kwheeler12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I LOVED FIREFLY LANE!! Loved it!! So when I found out there was a book two… I’m not kidding you I ran to Barnes and noble. Overall I gave this book a 4 mostly because it really made me feel something. Both good and bad.. I think I definitely had to put it down a few times due to feeling sick there were also times when I couldn’t put it down because I HAD TO KNOW what was going to happen next… great book! Would recommend the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Cursing, Body horror, Cancer, and Death

elisalasater's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Drug use, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Rape and Domestic abuse

leslie1187's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This follow up to Firefly Lane was emotional and hard to read while at the same time I couldn’t put it down. I was invested in learning where these characters ended up.
We are watching as these characters grapple with the heartbreaking loss of Kate at the end of the previous book. We follow them through a number of years and character transformations before one tragic accident causes their paths to collide once more. Through this the characters come together to help care for Tully as she recovers, waiting for her to wake from a coma. My emotions were wrung through a blender but I absolutely loved reading more about these characters as they faced their battles. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Car accident, Grief, and Self harm

vandadora's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

nguy524's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad 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? Yes

4.5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book. I don’t even know where to start. It started incredibly emotionally and I was in tears. I found myself wishing that Tully, Marah and Dorthy would figure out their lives. The rawness, trauma, mental health struggles, and ups and downs were so unbelievably real. Kristen Hannah did an amazing job with capturing life in such an accurate and emotional way. I cannot recommend this book enough.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Mental illness, and Chronic illness

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

The flow up to Hannah's beloved Firefly Lane focused on the grief experienced by those Kate left behind. Each character faces it is a unique way. I feel Hannah did a good job of portraying this grief. Tully and Marah are at the center of this story as they must come to terms with the loss of Kate. 

The story alternates between present day and the time after Kate's death. It fills in the gaps of what the characters went through in that time. After Firefly Lane, I didn't feel anything was necessarily missing, but I appreciate that Hannah followed up with this story to bring a greater sense of closure. It is an emotionally driven book that focuses on some dark moments after death of a loved one. The reader have feel the hurt Tully and Marah are carrying. 

In a way, I find this one hard to review without giving too much away. However, I think if you read Firefly Lane, which is worthy of the read, you should definitely pick up Fly Away as well. You don't have to do so immediately though, because I feel this one picks up at a good place and fills in where needed so the reader truly gets immersed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Grief, Self harm, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness