Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

17 reviews

blewballoon's review

emotional lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

3.75

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I did want something more from it. I feel like the "resolutions" to a couple of the characters plot-lines were unsatisfying, and since that's most of what the book has going for it in terms of story, that feels more significant than it might in a more plot heavy book. What the book does well is show a group of strangers coming together as true friends, which is a type of story that I eat up just about every time. I just had a few lingering doubts and concerns here that I would have rather been addressed better, and there were parts of the writing that felt a little too forced even for my sentimental soft heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Child death, and Terminal illness

Minor: Blood and Alcohol

bella613's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.75

This was so good! 
It was kind of a random pick-up-and-read and I wasn't expecting much out of it, but it was a pleasant surprise from beginning to end. Stellar writing, lifelike characters, and well placed literary references. I want to join a book club now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Blood

earthie's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I thought this book at first was going to be cheesy and fluffy with all the predictability of a washed romcom plot. Boy was I wrong. This book was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time in how it showed the unique sides of vulnerability that people hold and how there are such varied forms of facing those feelings, whether head-on or through deep and prompted self-processing.

This book drew me in unexpectedly, finishing it in less than 24 hours from when I started it. A heartwarming read, somewhat light and somewhat hard, but altogether interesting & full of wit. A book for those with a great love of books to find solace within its pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt, Cancer, Stalking, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse

kshertz's review

emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

Wow this book was fantastic. It made me laugh and sob cry. I don’t think you could ask for more. I didn’t even mind how many characters there were because I loved them all. I wasn’t even mad that it wasn’t a romance! The platonic love story of this book is just magical perfection. I read it in one day. I loved it 😍

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, and Death

kimveach's review

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.25

I picked this book up because it was set in Coeur d'Alene.  I didn't expect much, but it was a lovely story.  So glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Child death, Grief, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Cancer, and Terminal illness

chaoticenby's review

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-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

4.25

Felt like I reflected and grew alongside the characters. Light, comforting read. I’m adding the last book they read together to my list. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

This was one of the most heartwarming, relaxing and lighthearted (for the most part) books I ever read. I loved all of the major characters and how all of the lonely hearts found each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Child death

Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Cursing, Medical trauma, Stalking, Alcohol, and Blood

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective

• 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

 Lucy Gilmore's The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a charming tale of finding community within the love of books in unlikely places.

Sloane Parker prefers the quiet nuances of everyday life as a local librarian, even if it means the occasional argument with the town grump, Arthur McLachlan. Yet, when Sloane finds out about Arthur's recent hospitalization, she decides to assist in Arthur's recovery and eventually forms a makeshift book club made up with the town's misfits.

Going between the book club members: Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg, and Arthur himself, this book really explores themes of belonging and community excellently. Each of the characters with their own set of problems and how their involvement in the book club changes their lives for the better, Gilmore does a great job with balancing out this ensemble cast with their own moments to shine.

Now, I listened to the audiobook version of The Lonely Hearts Book Club through my local library and it was a bit of an investment. The chapters can be a bit long and the transitions between the different POVs, as well as their subsequent chapters, isn't as smooth as it could be. However, Angie Kane, sole narrator for The Lonely Hearts Book Club, provides an excellent narration for the book and conveys every single emotion found in the page with authentic acting.

If you are looking for a contemporary, found family novel featuring an ensemble cast bonding over a love of books, you might want to read The Lonely Hearts Book Club.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer

lizzye33's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Self harm, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

awalt2790's review

hopeful 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

Sweet palette cleansing type of book. Quick and cute read

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Grief, and Medical content