Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

9 reviews

macint0046's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

While this book does have some dark and tense elements, the author developed characters and stories outside of the simple “murder mystery” plot. 

I loved how reflective and inquisitive this book was, how it grappled with belief and the unknown, and how it strung together elements into thoughtful prose. The main character being a writer herself brings about a “meta” analysis; how people can be thought of as characters in a story, how their past and motives carry them through life.  

I felt the story was wonderfully paced, and that any “mystery” or “twist” was perfectly placed; no rush to the finish line or random details to glue together a villain. Characters have their motives, their flaws, their joys.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery and story telling, and am looking forward to reading more of this author’s work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Character grapples with mental illness, uncertainty of whether thoughts, dreams, and memories are true or fantasized. Some tell her they are just dreams, some say they are prophetic visions. This can be unsettling for people who may deal with similar mental health difficulties.

kayrenee521's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

1.75

As a palate cleanser I think it did it's job because I am feeling desperate to get back to some kind of fiction that isn't a thriller or horror.

It was very predictable and the characters were infuriating.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ashleysilver7's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This novel gave off "Rosemary's Baby" vibes, and I was not surprised to see that the author had this novel in mind when writing her book (among other things). It was a fun book where NYC and their buildings are major characters. Rosie is an up-and-coming best-selling author, and her husband, Chad, is an off-Broadway actor. They are pleasantly surprised to learn they have inherited an upscale NYC apartment, but this inheritance comes at a cost to Rosie. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders

kelseymcg20's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

2.75

I didn't care for the narrator's voice or how she dramatized certain chapters. It made the main character unlikeable to an extent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

jenniferbowman's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

nicoleeashton's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Pregnancy

avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

2.5

  When Rosie gets lucky and inherits an apartment in an exclusive building in NYC, strange things start to happen, and people all around them are dying under mysterious circumstances.
     I felt the author left too much not wrapped up at the end. What was the charm? Did the Windermere make people more successful? What was up with Rosie's dad's church? All these doors were opened but the book never fully explored them. She went into a bunch of other stuff that felt less important, lots of sex and more descriptive sex than most thrillers, which I don't mind if the author fills out the story.
   And the ending was absolutely no surprise. I need to stop reading her subpar books, I just keep hoping she'll improve as a writer.

Narrator Rating: 4.25 stars
  The narrator did an excellent job, but her tone for the sister was whiny and annoying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Stalking, Car accident, and Pregnancy

bearybooky's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infertility, Car accident, and Alcohol