Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

14 reviews

kay_chan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

1.5

Based on the synopsis, this book was so disappointing. I was expecting a historical fiction with whimsical elements to it. What I got was 90% women's trauma, a sprinkling of magical element that wasn't explained whatsoever, and a hint of historical element when it pertains to classic books and their authors. 

I almost dnf'd this book three or four times because the topics are dark and not developed well within the characters. It was shock value for me because I wasn't expecting it and even though I managed to finish it to get to the kind of "HEA", I don't think it was worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: War

tnm94's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: War and Violence

town_scar's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Docked a star because the timey-wimey stuff got to be hard to follow. I found the end very confusing and hard to follow. I did read this while actively traveling in Dublin so its possible my travel brain made it harder to follow along.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Physical abuse, Death, Child death, and Misogyny

Moderate: War, Mental illness, Stalking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Grief

felska's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Minor: Alcoholism

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexism, War, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence

jijirich's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense 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

Based on the cover and title (specifically the Amazon Kindle title which called the book "charming and uplifting"), I expected a cozy novel. The mystery aspects were fun, but I wasn't prepared for graphic violence against women. I rated it as highly as I did because I think if my expectations were different, I would have liked it more, but even still the characters felt flat and the plot had several gaping chasms.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Stalking, Confinement, Abandonment, Child death, Alcoholism, and Murder

tiamia1084's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Pregnancy, Death, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse and Death of parent

lochnessvhs's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Oh dear...perhaps this would be easiest in bullet form:

• I adored Opaline's story. It was the standout. Had the entire book been Opaline's story and thoroughly fleshed out, this may have been a 4-star read.
• Henry was the dullest, flattest, most useless character.
• Henry and Martha did not seem to have any chemistry whatsoever. It was only in the moments where one of them are thinking "oh s/he's perfect!" that anything came across, and it felt like we were being reminded they were supposed to be together. 
• The magical realism of the story was shoe-horned in and so lightly defined that it seemed to be pointless.
• There are 3 books in this book. One is possibly great (Opaline), one is okay (Martha and her husband and how she grows as a person) and one terrible (Henry and Martha and the magic bookshop).
• Plot holes make my head hurt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, and War

jessversteeg's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Unique plot, very creative! I enjoyed the rare books aspect and the investigation of the old stories 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Child death

Minor: Suicide

major themes of domestic abuse and forced institutionalization.

galadriel07's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Child death, Grief, and Physical abuse