Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

102 reviews

alinagpfrt's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content

nmann's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

For the hockey fans out there, this one's a winner. The author clearly knows their stuff – the details of the hockey world were spot-on, making this a truly immersive experience.

This book surprised me in the best way possible. It wasn't just about the game (though that part was fantastic), it also packed a surprising emotional punch. It was funny, heartwarming, and left me with all the warm fuzzies.

Let's talk characters: Gigi is fantastic. She's ambitious, independent, and works her tail off to prove herself, not relying on her famous dad's name. Loved that! Luke's backstory is definitely a tear-jerker, and his journey throughout the book is inspiring. He is also just a good example of a non-problematic male character. I also loved how Gigi mom stepped up for Luke, and the found-family aspect of it.

The romance was also a win. It's a slow burn with tons of chemistry, and these two characters communicate very maturely. There were some steamier moments that weren't quite my thing (hence the one star deduction – it's a personal preference, not the book's fault!), but overall, it was a fantastic love story.

Oh, and bonus points for the audiobook! Having dual narrators really brought the characters to life.

So, if you're looking for a fun, heartwarming read with a healthy dose of hockey and romance, this book is a sure goal!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

glutenfreemaggie's review

3.0

I was really enjoying this book until the ending which felt so rushed and unrealistic in some ways. If you’re looking for spice this is great for that, though there’s practically none in the last quarter of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Death of parent

karyzi's review

funny lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

taelorslibrary's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence

mabellene's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, and Bullying

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Infidelity, and Abandonment

natshu's review against another edition

lighthearted

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Murder, Alcohol, and Death of parent

gibbse97's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Violence

isaacreadsshit's review

emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

saoreads's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Evidently, I'm not a huge fan of foul language, but it leaves an impression and has some compelling qualities. The sexual tension and romance portrayed align with liberal perspectives, which can be perceived as common and cliché. However, the plot provides sufficient background for the main characters, making it easy to root for them. There were surprising twists, and it's great that the focus was on the evolution of the characters' personalities and behaviors, rather than solely the romantic aspects. Although I'm not knowledgeable about hockey, it appears to be well-represented in the narrative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Grief