Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock

7 reviews

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child death, Death, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, and Suicide attempt

sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

3.5

Mercy has spent the last two years hiding from the world in her house, her dachshund Wasabi her only companion . Other then the obvious her biggest problem now is that this sanctuary/prison has burnt to the ground. She’s homeless, alone and agoraphobic. 
So after a disastrous stay at her ex-husbands (and his new boyfriends) house, Mercy somehow ends up buying a 40 year old red Daihatsu Hijet and putting pedal to the metal heads north from Adelaide, her destination.. anywhere but here. 

What follows is a journey in a dilapidated van, with little to no possessions, Wasabi and the cremated remains of Jenny Cleggit (whom that may be Mercy has no idea). 

Mercy spends the novel slowly working her way north from Adelaide to Darwin, confronting the harsh environment, grey nomads, a Scottish tourist with a man-bun, her  online nemesis and her out of control anxiety. 

Although very slow moving, the book was a really respectable way of highlighting mental illness including its presentations, triggers and coping mechanisms associated with working though the illness. As a fellow anxiety sufferer I easily recognised and empathised with many moments in the book and didn’t feel belittled or shamed. 

There are some delightful moments and characters popping up in the book but although Mercy found herself on an epic adventure of self discovery, I found the book somewhat meh. It could be that I am too much a fantasy/historic fiction girl and require a bit more action and adventure (no dragons here peeps). 

The book is well written and I very much understand how it would be a huge hit for those who are fans of the contemporary literature genre. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

alfalky's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Captivated by this human journey that graciously holds and moves through the full realm of experience.
Mystery, adventure, anxiety, flirtation, outback wonder, friendship, grief and a cute sausage dog!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death of parent and Death

narpetcards's review

slow-paced

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

1.75

This didn’t do it for me, it feels a bit dismissive to suggest that a haircut, road trip and new bloke is enough to cure someone’s depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia.
It was fine, and I’m glad it was enjoyable for some, if someone is really struggling it might not be an ideal time to read this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Medical trauma, Alcohol, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Suicide attempt

sophie42's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Mental illness, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Minor: Medical content, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Alcohol

The MC's former job was as an obstetrician, so references to pregnancy complications/trauma/death is referenced. She also suffers from severe anxiety and panic attacks, and remained housebound for two years, until a fire burned her housed down. Reference to possibly deliberate lighting of said fire.

tillyc17's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Miscarriage