Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Alone With You in the Ether

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

7 reviews

belle13's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective tense medium-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

3.5

I originally rated this four stars because the author’s note made me love it a little more but after thinking about it for a few days I’ve decided it’s definitely a three and a half star for me. I don’t think it’ll really stick with me and although I think the author has talent I’m not tempted to pick up another of hers any time soon.

There were points where this was unbearably pretentious but I also think that is sort of the point. I think I’m meant to find the writing and the characters a little pretentious. Aldo was a much more likeable character than Regan and I thought he reminded me a little of Spencer Reid from Criminal minds which was fun. Regan on the other hand was so unlikeable but I also think Regan really disliked herself too and once again, I kind of think that’s the whole point. It was very much a realistic portrayal of someone with bipolar disorder and the complexities that surround having a diagnosis like that which I think the author wrote exceedingly well.

I listened to this on audio and I will say, I think that really affected how much I enjoyed it. I couldn’t connect with the characters as much and didn’t enjoy the narration so I would be interested to see if my opinion changed if I was to read it with my eyeballs.

I would recommend it if you’re looking for a complex romance that will make you think a little more deeply and you like characters who make you want to pick them apart and study their behaviour and emotions.

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csleeds's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.0

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embelle's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

4.75

I don’t even know what to write for this review, as I still haven’t fully processed this book. I feel like I could read this book 5 times and still not be able to process it. I’m convinced that this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before or anything that I’ll ever read in the future. Just wow wow wow. The Acknowledgements from Olivie Blake also totally had me in my feelings too

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thestorydoer's review

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I have never been so entranced by two characters.

This book revolves around 2 characters for most of it, and the side characters, true to their name for once, are cast to the side as less important. This is usually a flaw which I'd criticise if it weren't for the fact the dialogue and prose between these characters was so intensely electric. Every bit of them talking was entrancing, addicting, and emotional all in one. This is because the two characters are each intensely interesting with their unique ways of thinking.

Of course, this book is comments on romantic relationships with mental disorders/health issues. It does it extremely well. But I also find that it favors Regan's over Aldo's which makes sense as the author draws from Regan with her own bipolar disorder, but I think the book would've benefitted from treating them in equilibrium.

The author is also extremely creative in her prose. The book usually benefits from this. But there are a few times where the prose feels needlessly creative, adding flair to descriptions which simply didn't need it. However, the prose is also most of what makes this book such a beautiful and heart wrenching read.

I also think that the pacing also has a few issues as well, as the stages of their relationship go by at quite the accelerated pace which may be intentional, but I also think it could've been handled better.

Overall, a creative, imaginative read with two extremely interesting characters whose synergy is impossible to ignore. 4.25/5

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