Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

5 reviews

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

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

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

purplepenning's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I was super close to DNFing in the first 50 pages, and I'm still wondering if that might've been the better choice. It's competently written, and I understand why others might like it, but there's something off and off-putting about this one, and I'm sorry to say I'm not going to devote any more time to it to try to figure it out. It's an "irascible/antisocial/curmudgeonly elder and other floundering figures connect and create a supportive community" story, of a sort I've certainly read and appreciated before — A Man Called Ove, The Authenticity Project, The Reading List, All the Lonely People, Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle. It's written in multiple points of view, which I also generally enjoy. The first section proved to be my least favorite POV, so I was hopeful that pushing through it would be worthwhile. It was... okay-ish. Interesting characters, whose back stories are basically the plot, and a moderately satisfying conclusion. I would've preferred fewer characters, more depth, more challenge to some of the casual cruelties and sexism, more humor, and a greater sense of sustainable growth and happiness at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexism, Grief, Medical content, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

jelavision's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a heartfelt book about journey of grief after losing a loved one and the difficulty of healing from the pain. How human connections can be forged and strengthened. How a book can bring the unlikeliest of people together. I went into reading this book thinking it would be a lighthearted one. However, the book packs an emotional punch. It's a book I will be re-reading in the future.  Each character was written in such a thoughtful way, and well developed. It was lovely to go on the separate character journeys; and, then to see how each character meshed with the group. The group joining together was done in such a nuanced way. How you can form your own family and friendships in spite of the sadness of grief. This will be a book I recommend to others for sure!

 

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death, and Grief

Minor: Cancer