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liz_rath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If this had just been the last chapter I'd have given it a much higher rating, but the way it is I feel like it's just very deeply mid. Don't read this if you don't like unlikeable protagonists though or it will feel like torture.
Honestly the book seemed deeply confused about it's themes becauee unless the intended take away was "If you're unhappy with your life and suffer from depression Jus continue being a shitty person refusing to cope with your issues abouse a bunch of drugs and your attitude and life will magically fix themselves eventually" then it was lost. If that was supposed to be the take away then "Uh weird message bro, but sure". I liked the whole disaffected Millenial stick but it did not carry a whole book. At times it felt more like I was reading a character bible instead of a story. And with how it ends, her plan just working no real twists or curveballs, I was just left wondering what the point was.
Like I'm not one to demand a classic american story structure. You just had a cool quick idea and protagonist doesn't change substatially or learn anything by the end - fine by me. But we did not need so many words to tell this story (and I am using the term very liberally here) and the thing doesn't have that many words to begin with.
But whatever the prose was competent and it was a very quick read.
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Self harm, Mental illness, Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism
lenacamci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
She also deals with depression and grief and pain that a life of privilege could not shield her from.
This book is so driven by its character and the way she perceives the world and copes with it and yet, she does not learn. She changes but she doesn't grow.
It's very well written but it's not a pleasant read. It makes you reflect on how you can relate to her and yet leaves you frustrated by her decisions and just general unpleasantness. Which is fine, it's good to have bad, well written morally bad, insufferable but nuanced female characters.
The ending was the bitter note for me, as Reva is yet another somewhat unlikable character but who at least somehow tries and loves as superficial as she could be. Struggling with mental health, I didn't expect this book who is already a dark take having such a bitter, "life is unfair", painfully real ending.
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Addiction, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicide, Chronic illness, Confinement, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Abortion
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racism, Classism, Vomit, Addiction, Grief, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism, Excrement, Antisemitism, and Abortion
caseybeis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Abortion, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Suicidal thoughts
katilh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
the ending felt unearned, superficial, cheap.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
thealbapoems's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Suicide, Drug abuse, Addiction, Abortion, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death of parent, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol
djenkin96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug use, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Death, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
anh_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yet, it was such a “fun” read. The novel gives great insight into the mind of a troubled and depressed person. But I was sometimes worried that this novel glamorized mental illnesses (as if being depressed was equal to being edgy).
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Animal cruelty, Terminal illness, Abortion, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
houseofjules's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Cancer, Sexual content, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Abortion, Death, Confinement, and Alcohol
iulia619's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, Death, Alcohol, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Grief, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Mental illness, Abortion, and Eating disorder