Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra

5 reviews

crinkledmochi's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

It was alright 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Classism, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content

aryexo's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

A sharp and interesting modern adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing that may appeal to adult fans of Ibi Zoboi's Pride. There seems to be an expectation gap created by the early marketing, however, and readers expecting a rollicking, bantering, enemies-to-lovers romance in the vein of Shakespeare's cleverly sniping Benedick and Beatrice may be unprepared for so much past and present trauma, drinking, drugs, and sex. There's sniping, and it's clever, but the tone here is dark and earnest, not playful. Please check the content warnings and read with care. 

As for my personal reaction — I was expecting something a little more lighthearted and humorous and tried to adjust my expectations as quickly as possible. I appreciate what the author accomplished in creating complex and nuanced characters dealing with contemporary issues. Beatriz and Hero are both pretty badass. But parts of the story and the main romantic relationships don't work for me. This is a new adult book — with our characters in their senior year of college — and sex is very much at the forefront. I don't mind steamy romance, but I'm not wired to understand intense physical attraction between people who genuinely don't like or trust each other, so I don't get about 85% and Ben and Beatriz's dynamic. Ben's character growth seems lightning fast. Yes, he's a fantasy nerd at heart and a never-Trumper who loves Jane Austen and has one good friend who he genuinely, (but ineffectively) cares about, but we see his smarmy, sexist, uncaring thoughts at the beginning and it's not pretty. Meg's storyline is horrifying (even more so when it feels like she's sacrificed to accelerate Ben's growth). Hero's reunion/breakup sex with Claudio is intensely cringey and confusing. I'm delighted to think of them all benefiting from therapy, though, and loved to see the positive therapy rep and all the conversations and demonstrations of subtle racism, feeling unsafe in your own damn country, colorism, biphobia, safe sex, addiction, anxiety, trauma, and legacies of abuse. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Rape, and Xenophobia

Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

Revenge porn, nonconsensual filming of sex, revenge drug addiction, intentional drug abuse/addiction initiated by an older sexual partner, unprotected sex (followed up with getting testing), parental abuse and neglect, colorism

bookwormbullet's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Body shaming, Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, and Suicide attempt

malka's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Infidelity

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, Vomit, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt