Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Lemon by Kwon Yeo-sun

20 reviews

sgksoccer5's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Eating disorder and Ableism

caroisreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

This is a very quick and haunting read, thought-provoking about classism and its effect on families, their trauma and grief. 

Hae-on is a high schooler and is found murdered. Her case has gone cold. Her defining characteristic is her overwhelming beauty, paired with her vapid personality. We switch from the POVs of her younger sister Da-on, and two of her classmates, who each give us pieces to essentially solve the puzzle. 

There are big leaps in timeline, and undefined switches in POV, which might be confusing, but I really appreciated the effect it gave -- stumbling around in memories, trying to make sense of it all. Without spoilers, I can say Kwon Yeo-Sun beautifully balanced that fine line with the reader, giving us just enough to understand each character's personality, backstory and role in the murder. You're forced to overcome your own prejudice to see clearly what's right in front of you.

Give this a read if you're in the mood for a short book, Korean authors and stories, and darker plots.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Fatphobia, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Grief, Violence, and Chronic illness

caitlynes91's review against another edition

4.25

still collecting my thoughts but wow this snuck up on me and hit like a gut punch.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Murder

Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, and Classism

karimari237's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

there’s a moment where Da-on is describing how her sister didn’t understand the burdens that are supposed to come with having a body and that to me was the most heartbreaking part of all, not that she didn’t understand it but that it was one of the most dangerous things she could have done just existing as a girl with a body without shame 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Grief, and Kidnapping

booksandbabble's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Murder

Moderate: Cancer and Eating disorder

tristinrose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, Violence, Death, Eating disorder, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Cancer

Minor: Sexual assault

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Car accident, Grief, Death, Misogyny, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Child death, Classism, Murder, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Ableism, Body shaming, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape and Pedophilia

withlivjones's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

An interesting exploration of grief, guilt, and the lasting impact of the death of a teenager on various people who knew her. I thought that the concept was intriguing but I expected it to be a somewhat different book, more of a murder mystery, but instead it focuses much more on the fallout of the murder rather than the murder itself. There are some lines that really pack a punch, and I particularly like the chapters where the narration is in the form of a one-sided conversation as you can get a real sense of character. I wouldn’t say that I really enjoyed this book as I just felt that something was missing from it, but I am glad that I read it nonetheless. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Murder, Cancer, Death of parent, and Police brutality

Minor: Alcohol, Terminal illness, and Eating disorder

errie's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Eating disorder, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Minor: Cancer

jayisreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.5

I picked this up with very little knowledge of what the book was about, other than that there was some element of crime in it. I don’t think it has quite the thriller/crime vibe and, instead, feels more like a deep reflection on how death impacts different people and, for some, the way grief manifests over time. I definitely felt the book was far too short, but I also wouldn’t be able to tell you how to expand the story some more. In some ways, maybe keeping it succinct was for the best. I thought the pacing could have been a little slower, but maybe it felt fast due to how short the book was.

I’m not sure what else to say about this one, but there’s a lot to think about. That being said, I can see how this book isn’t for everyone, especially if they’re looking for a plot focused on the murder as opposed to character studies of sorts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Cancer

Minor: Ableism and Eating disorder