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silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
These days, loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.
This book has been a long-time coming. I was a little scared going into this because of all the high praise surrounding this book, but I shouldn't have been. I thought it was very well written, with an engaging plot and a lot of important messages to get across to the reader. I certainly had a couple of issues with how some things (the therapy, the SA, and the alcoholism to give just some examples) were handled and I found Eleanor's fatphobia (although in no way endorsed in the book) was somewhat difficult to read.
However, Eleanor was a very unique character and her charm really grew on me throughout the book. Despite the dark themes, Gail Honeyman's humour came across very well in my opinion and I loved the way she made me feel Eleanor's loneliness. If the trigger warnings do not look to overwhelming, I can definitely recommend this book to many of my close friends, it is one that is certainly worth the read!
Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Fatphobia and Body shaming
bootrat'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: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, Rape, Stalking, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Grief
jennnw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Fatphobia, Child death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Fatphobia and Body shaming
I found the author's brief bit about fat people to be insensitive. The author lists forgiveable reasons/ailments why someone may be fat or overweight. In this the author, through the protagonist's point of view, makes a case for how fat doesn't inherently imply inferiority, but she fails to mention that fat does not inherently mean unhealthy.vagrantheather'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
5.0
I was glad to see where her social relationships ended up. I was afraid they would go one way and felt that would've cheapened it.
I did struggle a little with the absurdity of a culture that allows a person to take extended medical leave without losing their job or going broke. The US is not ok.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Stalking, Self harm, Vomit, and Sexual violence
kathrynok'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: Child abuse, Addiction, Child death, Medical content, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Death
peasandpancakes'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: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Child abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Stalking
melli29_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Cancer
mjenae'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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Child death, and Physical abuse
carlar'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
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, Cancer, Murder, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, and Death
kaileylebrun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent