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claireisagrisha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Addiction
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
The main character has bipolar disorder.nikogatts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I would characterize this book like I characterize Wuthering Heights (a famous line from which is paraphrased in Part 6 of Ether): not as a romance, but as a love story between two mentally unwell, deeply insufferable people. Alone With You in the Ether is the story of Regan and Aldo and the process through which they fall into an all-consuming love. The author does not shy away from the main characters' insecurities, unhealthy fixations, challenging family dynamics, or cycles of toxicity; instead, these behaviors and relationships are portrayed with the type of honesty that more people should utilize in real life. As their relationship solidifies, Aldo and Regan's bad habits interact -- not being amplified, not disappearing, but coexisting in a way that seems to suit both parties. It would be almost romantic if I didn't find the people involved just so exhausting and their mutual love a bit scary in its obsessiveness. Like with Cathy and Heathcliff, I don't like either of these characters, but their story was compelling.
The one theme that irked me was Regan's relationship to (and avoidance of) psychiatric help. I understand that the author of this book has a similar mood disorder and, like Regan, chooses to live without medication, and she states in the afterword that she's not advocating for others to make the same choice. But I went down a path similar to Regan's when I was younger, believing that it was more "authentic" and creatively freeing to not take medication, that medicating my anxiety and depression was somehow suppressing and stifling me. Eventually, I realized that emotions being "authentic" doesn't make them healthy, and I was able to function much better once I found a medication that worked for me. So while I acknowledge where this part of the story originated, it still rubbed me the wrong way and I'm glad that (without spoiling anything) Regan's approach to her treatment kind of evens out by the end of the book.
I gave this a 3 (point 25-ish) for the above reasons, and because the writing, while good from sentence to sentence, dragged on in some places. The conversations in third person were the worst -- while it's an interesting play on back-and-forth dialogue, it got irritating when the "talking" went on for pages.
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment
kimzeyk'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: Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Addiction, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
sleepyreaderthings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jumping into the book was an adjustment with the whole narrator and scene thing that was there at the start. Not having chapters but instead sections isn’t always my favorite, but somehow I have fallen in love with the two books I’ve read that are like that (this included.) The writing is great but also confusing and pretentious. I loved it! I found myself reading and getting lost in Regan’s thoughts only to end up in Aldo’s somehow? I was confused at points but then I got it. It was meant to be that way because our minds are messy. Those of us who struggle mentally don’t have a super organized brain or thought process, and I think Olivie Blake showed that spectacularly.
I identified with both Regan and Aldo in so many ways, mostly because I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety and crazy intrusive thoughts. I know what it’s like to push people away and to wonder when they’re going to leave. Because it’s inevitable. Because I can be mean and difficult, and who can stomach that? I understand Regan not wanting to be on meds anymore, and I understand her interactions with her psychiatrist. I didn’t tell mine anything honest. Idk. This was just such a real and refreshing book in all ways. They’re both stuck inside their heads, constantly thinking and searching for something just to stay alive and find a reason. Aldo had time and then Regan. I had shows in high school and now I have books. We all find little things to help keep us alive and breathing because some of us aren’t blessed with calm minds. Some of us struggle to speak to others and fit in, and omg was it so good to see that represented here for my past self.
I was scared how this would end because I’m a pessimist. My friend argues I’m not, and in comparison to him, he’s right. But I expected a sad ending because people like Aldo and Regan aren’t always lucky enough to get one. I am glad that I was wrong.
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Addiction, and Drug use
nclausel25's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Infidelity
e_riahh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
readerette's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you are bothered by relationship drama, this may not be a story for you, but I enjoyed the philosophical musings of both characters enough to balance out the drama (I especially resonated with Aldo). I've never had exactly the thoughts or obsessions these two had, but some of their wonderings and worries definitely struck a chord for me that made the book quite an emotional journey.
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
cnannery19's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Gaslighting
lauren_shilling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Drug abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
elderwoodreads'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: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Violence