Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Expectation by Anna Hope

4 reviews

nenaveenstra's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? Yes

4.5

This book formed a beautiful portrait of three women throughout various stages of their lives. We follow them through love, lust and loss, while they worry about relationships and children and the state of the world. It is at the same time deeply relatable, as unbelievably foreign to me as a 23 year-old. The things they complain about while being able to afford a house of their own and impromptu trips to Greece is insane to me, but at the same time they discuss feminism and climate change with a sense of urgency that I feel just as much. 

Aside from the themes, I was also incredibly moved by the writing in this novel - its poetic nature, and the emotion with which the most mundane situations are put to paper. It felt deeply personal, these little sneak peeks into these women's lives. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Infertility, and Mental illness

Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Biphobia, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual violence and Dementia

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional reflective 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

3.5

On paper, EXPECTATION has all the elements of a true Bella favorite: the focus on female friendships and coming-of-age (or simply: whatever it means to be an adult and a woman), a "slice-of-life" literary plot, poetic and captivating writing, etc. And I can't lie, I did really enjoy the time I spent with Hannah, Cate, and Lissa, the three main characters at the center, and I praise Hope for not being afraid of depicting drifting friendships as a consequence of nothing more than time.

And yet! I am frustrated that we live in a world where women are defined by their proximity (or lack thereof) to motherhood, and I'm saddened that EXPECTATION, however well-written it is, reinforces the idea that I exist to reproduce. True or not as that may be, I was and remain hungry for more nuance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Infertility

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Minor: Abortion and Alcohol

schorlett's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Mental illness, Death, Cancer, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abortion

abbiemreads's review against another edition

reflective slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer and Abortion

Minor: Alcohol, Mental illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Infertility, and Grief