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Reviews tagging 'Grief'
Five Feet Apart by Tobias Iaconis, Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry
51 reviews
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Summary of my review: Emotional, not only about diseases (other types of problems), great character development, heart-wrenching, correct information about the diseases, weird wording, sometimes unrealistic, sometimes a bit slow
• • • •
In Depth Discussion/The Review
Likes: Medium paced book. Gets excited around 60 pages in.
A lot of character development (Will) and backstories of characters making them more relatable and connected.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'feel anxious, restless even. Because instead of just wanting to get healthy, I need to get healthy. For my parents’ sake.'
Reference 2: Chapter 1, 'Multicolored patches are sewn over spots where he ripped open, his stuffing pouring out when I squeezed too hard during the most painful of my treatments.'
The characters all have their own unique quirk like Stella needing to be in control of everything or Will trying to have freedom no matter what and might show it by doing risky things or Poe liking to drink milkshake and donuts.
We don't just only get to know the main characters and their friends, but also the parents who care about their child's sickness, which is quite important for me as it doesn't only show how friendships are affected by a disease, but whole families too.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'Thirty-five percent is a number that keeps my mom up at night. She doesn’t say it, but her computer does.'
This book is dark and emotional which is perfect for this topic. I wouldn't be able to take a book serious about diseases if the genre would be comedy. So the genre choosen here might upset some, but it is very well conveyed. Also, the subject is not only diseases, but other problems that one may face in their life.
Reference: Chapter 1 'When you have CF, you sort of get used to the idea of dying young.'
Reference 2: Chapter 1, 'People are always looking at my cannula, my scars, my G-tube, not at me.'
The romance in this book was slowburn but with lots of action. Won't spoil it of course, but I am sure everyone will like it. The emotions and their attachment and little promises, all made me feel flattered!
Great and correct information about the diseases (the author either did some research or had the disease themselve).
Reference: Chapter 1, 'For cystic fibrosis patients, cross-infection from certain bacteria strains is a huge risk. One touch between two CFers can literally kill the both of them.'
Reference: Chapter 2: 'Pretty much all guys with CF are infertile'
Dislikes: Sheepishly. Way too often used word in this book.
Sometimes weird wording, like 'My heart feels so full, it’s disgusting.' (Chapter 20) Also: 'You know how anal I am.' (Chapter 1)
Sometimes the book felt a bit slow. Like the beginning was of course an introduction but the first thing being exciting also felt like everything was about to end (I talk about the scene around 60 pages in) and overall there were sometimes moments that felt unnecessary or over-explained/described.
I don't know how it is to have CF, but there is no way you go normally to school and stuff with only 35% lung volume. That is servere lung disease and at this rate you can't walk for longer than like 10-15 minutes until you are exhausted. It's like having asthma all the time. But maybe it isn't, but that just sounds unrealistic.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'About 70 percent of the time, things are pretty normal for me. I go to school, I hang out with Camila and Mya, I work on my app. I just do it all with low-functioning lungs. But for the remaining 30 percent of my time, CF controls my life.'
• • • •
Rating
How it works: Only everything that is lower than 9 gets reduced from the final rating. Depending on how strong it inflicted the overall enjoyment of reading it effects differently.
[ Story 8 / 10 ]
[ Characters 10 / 10 ]
[ Triggering 0 / 10 ]
[ Topic/Genre 10 / 10 ]
[ Writing style 7 / 10 ]
[ Grammatic and spelling 10 / 10 ]
[ Ending 10 / 10 ]
Final Rating
4/5
• • • •
Final thoughts/Questions
This story wasn't triggering for me, but I will add a trigger warning list for this book on StoryGraph. In case you don't have StoryGraph, but you want to read this book you may write a comment down below and I will send it here too.
Started the book: 25. May 2024
Finished the book: 26. May 2024
Wrote the review: 27. May 2024
• • • •
In Depth Discussion/The Review
Likes: Medium paced book. Gets excited around 60 pages in.
A lot of character development (Will) and backstories of characters making them more relatable and connected.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'feel anxious, restless even. Because instead of just wanting to get healthy, I need to get healthy. For my parents’ sake.'
Reference 2: Chapter 1, 'Multicolored patches are sewn over spots where he ripped open, his stuffing pouring out when I squeezed too hard during the most painful of my treatments.'
The characters all have their own unique quirk like Stella needing to be in control of everything or Will trying to have freedom no matter what and might show it by doing risky things or Poe liking to drink milkshake and donuts.
We don't just only get to know the main characters and their friends, but also the parents who care about their child's sickness, which is quite important for me as it doesn't only show how friendships are affected by a disease, but whole families too.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'Thirty-five percent is a number that keeps my mom up at night. She doesn’t say it, but her computer does.'
This book is dark and emotional which is perfect for this topic. I wouldn't be able to take a book serious about diseases if the genre would be comedy. So the genre choosen here might upset some, but it is very well conveyed. Also, the subject is not only diseases, but other problems that one may face in their life.
Reference: Chapter 1 'When you have CF, you sort of get used to the idea of dying young.'
Reference 2: Chapter 1, 'People are always looking at my cannula, my scars, my G-tube, not at me.'
The romance in this book was slowburn but with lots of action. Won't spoil it of course, but I am sure everyone will like it. The emotions and their attachment and little promises, all made me feel flattered!
Great and correct information about the diseases (the author either did some research or had the disease themselve).
Reference: Chapter 1, 'For cystic fibrosis patients, cross-infection from certain bacteria strains is a huge risk. One touch between two CFers can literally kill the both of them.'
Reference: Chapter 2: 'Pretty much all guys with CF are infertile'
Dislikes: Sheepishly. Way too often used word in this book.
Sometimes weird wording, like 'My heart feels so full, it’s disgusting.' (Chapter 20) Also: 'You know how anal I am.' (Chapter 1)
Sometimes the book felt a bit slow. Like the beginning was of course an introduction but the first thing being exciting also felt like everything was about to end (I talk about the scene around 60 pages in) and overall there were sometimes moments that felt unnecessary or over-explained/described.
I don't know how it is to have CF, but there is no way you go normally to school and stuff with only 35% lung volume. That is servere lung disease and at this rate you can't walk for longer than like 10-15 minutes until you are exhausted. It's like having asthma all the time. But maybe it isn't, but that just sounds unrealistic.
Reference: Chapter 1, 'About 70 percent of the time, things are pretty normal for me. I go to school, I hang out with Camila and Mya, I work on my app. I just do it all with low-functioning lungs. But for the remaining 30 percent of my time, CF controls my life.'
• • • •
Rating
How it works: Only everything that is lower than 9 gets reduced from the final rating. Depending on how strong it inflicted the overall enjoyment of reading it effects differently.
[ Story 8 / 10 ]
[ Characters 10 / 10 ]
[ Triggering 0 / 10 ]
[ Topic/Genre 10 / 10 ]
[ Writing style 7 / 10 ]
[ Grammatic and spelling 10 / 10 ]
[ Ending 10 / 10 ]
Final Rating
4/5
• • • •
Final thoughts/Questions
This story wasn't triggering for me, but I will add a trigger warning list for this book on StoryGraph. In case you don't have StoryGraph, but you want to read this book you may write a comment down below and I will send it here too.
Started the book: 25. May 2024
Finished the book: 26. May 2024
Wrote the review: 27. May 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility, Abandonment, Cursing, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
bookreviewbyana's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Tem de ler este livro, tem tantas lições a aprender a partir desta história!! O final pode desiludir alguns, mas é suposto ser uma história real...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Grief
ankiaisreading's review against another edition
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Medical content, Child death, Deportation, Grief, Death, and Terminal illness
maybevie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Barb - the legend herself
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Medical content
colorcrystals's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility
epeolatrist's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Medical content and Grief
sarah_royal04's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cried
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Death
Minor: Infertility
chelle22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Abandonment, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
lawbooks600's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Representation: Side Latino character
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while after I read The Fault in Our Stars (a book similar to this one) and not long after, I finally read it. When I finished it, I had a lot of thoughts on the story, for one it left me feeling what I would best describe as gutted, but simultaneously I felt a disconnect from the characters and I could never fully relate to them. Now with that out of the way, the novel starts with the main characters Stella Grant, or Stella (wait a minute, I've heard of that name) and Will Newman, or Will, living in the hospital for their entire lives since they have a terminal illness. The first aspect that irked me was the instant love. Come on. They only met each other for a little while and then suddenly they start a relationship (That reminds me of The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.) Really? The dialogue was also unrealistic since I felt like I was listening to a conversation between two philosophers instead of teenagers, which is a shame since if that was fixed the story would've been slightly better. This novel also talks a lot about cystic fibrosis but here's the catch: I don't have CF. It's not clear on whether the narrative is an accurate portrayal or a misrepresentation, but I'd suggest reading reviews from people who have this condition. Did I mention the emotional manipulation is off the charts? There's so much talk about death, like how Stella lost her sister in a cliff diving accident, and another character died. I get that Stella was sick and tired of being controlled all the time but that doesn't mean she can be as reckless with her life (to the point where she almost died) as she wants. The ending is a somewhat high note and I enjoyed reading that. Wow.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while after I read The Fault in Our Stars (a book similar to this one) and not long after, I finally read it. When I finished it, I had a lot of thoughts on the story, for one it left me feeling what I would best describe as gutted, but simultaneously I felt a disconnect from the characters and I could never fully relate to them. Now with that out of the way, the novel starts with the main characters Stella Grant, or Stella (wait a minute, I've heard of that name) and Will Newman, or Will, living in the hospital for their entire lives since they have a terminal illness. The first aspect that irked me was the instant love. Come on. They only met each other for a little while and then suddenly they start a relationship (That reminds me of The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.) Really? The dialogue was also unrealistic since I felt like I was listening to a conversation between two philosophers instead of teenagers, which is a shame since if that was fixed the story would've been slightly better. This novel also talks a lot about cystic fibrosis but here's the catch: I don't have CF. It's not clear on whether the narrative is an accurate portrayal or a misrepresentation, but I'd suggest reading reviews from people who have this condition. Did I mention the emotional manipulation is off the charts? There's so much talk about death, like how Stella lost her sister in a cliff diving accident, and another character died. I get that Stella was sick and tired of being controlled all the time but that doesn't mean she can be as reckless with her life (to the point where she almost died) as she wants. The ending is a somewhat high note and I enjoyed reading that. Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Chronic illness, Grief, and Terminal illness
Full trigger warnings: Chronic and terminal illness (cystic fibrosis), near-death experience, hospitalisation, hypothermia, death of a sister and child from a fall in the past and another child, grief and loss depiction_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Deportation and Abandonment