Reviews

Leaving Las Vegas by John O'Brien

kokonatsu's review

4.0

What a depressing and heartbreaking read. This story consists of Ben, Sera and a little bit of Al. There’s not a lot of background information given, and a lot of the novel centres on their clutches, but it was still mesmerising as it was bleak. Knowing that Josh O’Brien is an alcoholic makes Ben’s story all the more sadder. So if you’re up for something that’s really not lighthearted at all, something more dark, this is your book.

user8086's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

violettiaras's review

5.0

:((((

so much i could say but the only thing i can think to say now is how much i love that the book does flashbacks to seras past and the movie does glimpses of her future idk idk

abelm's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

5.0

patrycja_karolina's review

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

5.0

812129's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

sortabadass's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

Minor: Incest

realnarry's review

challenging dark 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

5.0

wellredwino's review

dark sad medium-paced

5.0

bibliophilelinda's review

4.0

This is an interesting and compelling story which explores the depths of prostitution and alcoholism. Sera is a former Hollywood prostitute who fled to Las Vegas to escape her abusive pimp, Yuri. Ben, a once married and successful man, is now chronic alcoholic bent on drinking himself to death. Both Sera and Ben meet in Vegas and, in a sense, fall in love or at the very least simply enjoy each others company. But, before Sera can convince Ben to give up his notion of suicide by bottle, Ben dies. A sad but still touching portrayal of the misery both characters endure so that one can live free and the other can escape his reality.