Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

179 reviews

tamsin_emma's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

Dark murder mystery thriller. Fast paced, deals with some interesting moral questions and lots of character development 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Mental illness, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Dark murder mystery. Deals with difficult themes

hazydazywaffles's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

It's so hard to put all my thoughts into words. I would definitely say I liked the first 2 so much better. What Pip did at the 60% mark had my jaw on the floor, but not in a good way. SHe didn't have

to kill him. She just didn't. She could have gone to the police, she could have just run, she could have done so many other things. But kill him brutally? No. She was completely blinded by all the pain she's had to endure. It also bothered me how there were so many people she could have reached out to for help with dealing with her trauma. But she chose to shut everyone, even Ravi, out. Plus, the police's complete denial that anything was happening felt like it was done for the plot, not because that would really happen.

I need to go read a happy rom-com or something light after this book. I would say this was my least favorite, considering all the twisting of justice in this book. You can't justify Pip or Ravi's actions to me. Will forever love the first two books but this one is not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Blood, Death, Gore, Drug abuse, Murder, and Mental illness

kim_gzt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

I didn’t enjoy the second half of the book as much because the whole story pretty much took a 180 but the first part was a tense and I was genuinely scared for Pip in many situations. 

I didn’t like the second part because everything that happens it because she thinks she cannot trust the police and by setting up the whole “How to get away with murder” thing. I also thought Jason being DT was pretty predictable from the start. I was still scared shitless for Pip.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, and Animal death

florapatricia's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

It took me two tries to finish this book. The teenage anxt was getting at me big times. 

ALthough, if I think about it, I would love me a partner who helps with cleaning up my murder without question. But the breakup scene at the very end reminded me of Twilight New Moon big times. Maybe I am just jealous of the teenage passion these characters embody.

Anyways; the narrators did a fantastic job, I recommend the audiobook if you're interested in an unconventional murder mytery book series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Addiction

nele_281's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Murder, Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gore, and Torture

Moderate: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, Sexism, Drug abuse, and Rape

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and Cursing

bo0k_wh0re's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

LOVE.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gore, Stalking, Grief, Death, and Murder

Minor: Cursing

kat_a's review against another edition

It got just really confusing and I couldn't imagine it was well as I was able to wirh her previous work. This confusion and muddled detailed had me put it down temporarily. I also have a concussion which only added to my delayed attitude when picking it up and wanting to read it. I'll most likely pick it back up later in the year or maybe even in a few days. I love Holly Jackson, but I'm just not in the mood right now it seems. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, and Grief

I just put all the warnings I could think of in the graphic section. I'm very tried and recovering from a concussion currently. Apologies for the messiness and lack of organization.

secre's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Holy hell, I was not expecting the way this series twisted and pivoted and I am absolutely here for it. Admittedly, some of the events absolutely strain credulity, but it's well written enough and high stakes enough to be riveting regardless. I was very much expecting the same tried and tested formula here and to begin with, it looked like that's what I was getting; Pip finds a new case to embroil herself in even as she's spiralling with PTSD and taking pills to sleep. But at about the half way mark, things take a dark and shocking turn and the entire formula is cast into the winds as Pip scrambles to keep her life intact.

It's shocking. Crazy. And absolutely riveting. And I could not put this book down. I was absolutely hooked. Early in the novel, it becomes clear that Pip probably has a stalker. I say probably because Pip absolutely isn't the most reliable of witnesses at this point. She's spiralling, hard, haunted by the death of Child Brunswick and reliving the moment both awake and asleep. She's heavily reliant on sleeping aids, which is problematic as the doctor stopped prescribing them so now she has to buy them from less reputable sources. Jackson does an excellent job of depicting Pip's mental health struggles.

But as the novel goes on, the threat from the stalker increases and it's clear that this is not the imagining of Pip's mind. Someone really is out to get her. I expected things to fall into place at this point; Pip racing against time to unmask the threat before it's too late. And that's kind of what happens. Until it isn't. There isn't much I can say without huge spoilers, but I can say the novel takes a sharp detour from the expected and runs off the rails into a whole different kettle off fish. Pip has everything to lose.

I hammered through this novel. I needed to know what happened. I needed to know how things worked out. I needed to know if Pip comes out the other side. I could not put this book down. It's completely unexpected but absolutely gripping for it. I hope this isn't the last we see of Pip as this has been one hell of a ride. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Mental illness, Drug use, Murder, and Kidnapping

firelordmomo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, and Addiction

Minor: Rape

fanboyriot's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

5.0

♡ Cold Case

♡ Feminine Rage

♡ How to Get Away with Murder

Wow, what a roller coaster this book was.  The most tense out of the series for sure.  I got through the first part then quickly worried how everything would come together by the end.  Which I’m super happy with how this ended.  Everything came full circle and it was so satisfying to read even if some parts were anxiety inducing.  Pip really slayed with her last case (pun may or may not be intended).

And yes, this book also has stunning formatting with all the extra details in the design of the book.  I absolutely loved this series and highly recommend it.

Spice Level: n/a

POV: First Person

Release Date: 28, September 2021

Rep: BIPOC (Main and Side Characters)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Cursing, Kidnapping, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Stalking, Gore, Addiction, Death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, and Mental illness

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Child death, Suicide, Vomit, and Physical abuse