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rieviolet's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I appreciated the hard-hitting representation of mental illness, just make sure to check the content warnings and look after your own mental well-being.
I also quite liked the humour and, as a raised-Catholic-turned-atheist, I cackled many times whenever Gilda pondered over bizarre Catholic rituals.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Blood, Suicide, Murder, Grief, Car accident, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Bullying, Outing, Animal death, Body horror, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Self harm, Stalking, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Dysphoria, and Drug abuse
amanda_mh's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
**major trigger warnings for depression and anxiety so please look at them before reading. This is a book that you need to be in the right headspace for.
Graphic: Death, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
neverlandpages4's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Grief
Moderate: Self harm, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
droggelbecher42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Only massive downside is that the ending felt very abrupt and I didn't like the way
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Addiction, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Outing
skudiklier's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I have anxiety and I related to Gilda a lot while reading it (though she struggles with it way more than I do, and I have a much easier time asking for help). I loved the way this was written, in genuinely every way that could be interpreted. I'm amazed by how relatable and funny this was while also being so dark and existential. I was so drawn in and cared so much about what was going to happen to everyone involved.
Honestly I have absolutely zero complaints about this book. I mean...I wish maybe we'd gotten a glimpse of Eli at the end to see what happened there? But I understand why the author may have wanted to leave some things open-ended, and I'm satisfied with what we did get to see at the end. I can't recommend this book enough.
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Car accident, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Outing, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Body horror, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Sexism, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Blood, Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Child death, Dementia, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Rape, Cancer, and Mass/school shootings
major cw for dissociation, depression, and anxietykers_tin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Lesbophobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Stalking, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
kjb2003's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Self harm
Minor: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury
sagebrush_'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
4.25
If you do have crippling anxiety or depression then this book will amplify it briefly, maybe too much. This story contained feelings that I’ve had for years, and it’s cathartic to read the words I’ve been experiencing myself.
Gilda is a hard character to love as we see her mistreat herself and the people around her. At times I related to her completely and other points felt immense gratitude I had access to support and never reached her level.
There is a resolution to Gilda’s story but it felt rushed. The pacing of the end of the book is why it’s not a 5* read for me.
A couple hundred pages of Gilda’s descent into depression and then some bits at the end to turn everything around. It was sudden and jarring, though I’m happy for the characters and overall enjoyed the book!
Graphic: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
Minor: Drug abuse
lilacwhisker'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
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Bullying
Minor: Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Animal death, Car accident, and Child abuse