Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

35 reviews

bowenlacar's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Terminal illness

faloneran's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, and Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment and Cancer

mjreadings's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is beautiful and terrible, with an atmosphere that you soak into. An incredibly immersive and intense family drama, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a heavier read that transports you directly to summer months at a lakeside cabin.

I would describe this book as grim and troubling, which normally wouldn’t be the type of book I would go for, but I am so glad I picked this one up and buddy read it with @flower_bubbles because I just couldn’t put it down! I listened to 3/4 of this one on audio and I would definitely recommend this format. The narrator is phenomenal, but also I really felt Elle was directly telling me her own story, which made me feel very invested in her life and spellbound by this whole book.

I can definitely see why this book made the Women’s Prize for Fiction long list and was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, truly gorgeous writing that I would expect for literary fiction. But be forewarned, there are a lot of difficult topics covered and graphic scenes depicted in this one, and I would recommend researching the content before diving in. 

I’d recommend this book to readers who tend toward:

• storylines with multiple flashes through time 
• dark books that deal with trauma and vulnerability but contrasted with tender moments of togetherness
• imperfect and complicated main characters 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Incest, and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, and Infertility

dckathleen's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was frustrating and should come with major content warnings. It's billed as the story of a hook up between old friends who are married to other people.

Although that does happen, the story also includes repeated and detailed descriptions of child abuse and rape. There's also a dead child. 

There's only one likable character, and honestly, he doesn't save it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Cancer, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming

kaseybereading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Child death, Cancer, Abandonment, and Rape

bouebooks's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Murder, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Cancer, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

placebogirl's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Abandonment and Cancer

betsygrace's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book is okay, but it’s just not for me. Some of the main plot points were very triggering. I enjoy the slow burn and angsty vibe of the star crossed lovers, but the side plot and secrets they share are honestly just not for me. I would absolutely not recommend this for anyone who has experienced any kind of sexual trauma because it definitely is a focal point among some characters in the book and I found it triggering to read. Overall, however, this book wasn’t bad, it’s just not a good fit for me specifically as a reader. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Murder, Infidelity, Incest, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, and Cancer

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

floreselena's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death