Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart by Margarita Montimore

32 reviews

cumminsn's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Time shenanigans can be tough to get right in a story, but this tale does them fairly well. Jumping from one year to the next, the main character just as confused and surprised as the reader on where, and when, she was going to end up, always keeps you on your toes. The further in the story you get, the more times Oona experiences one of her birthday leaps, the harder the book is to put down. It is a very unique way to experience events, and how even the smallest of things from one point in Oona’s life make appearances in others, all the tie ins, every connection, was quite satisfying. There are twists, and they aren’t the most predictable either. If you’re looking for a tale in a sometimes modern, sometimes past, always mysterious setting but with a good bit of whimsy, can handle some high-highs along with low-lows, this one is a good read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Drug use, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Minor: Violence and Transphobia

litliz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Death, Drug use, Death of parent, Vomit, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Body horror, Dysphoria, Cancer, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Addiction, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment

caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

 "You need to experience the lows along with the highs. Otherwise, you end up with a safe, sterile, painless life, and who wants that?"

I honestly wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Maybe it's because I am so close in age to Oona, but I really connected with her. I went for the ride right along with her, and just like in real life, that ride could get a little bumpy. But one thing it wasn't, was boring.

The audiobook narration was excellent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, and Cancer

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Death of parent and Car accident

gellyreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I really really enjoyed this book. I just felt like I wanted something a bit more? I didn't see all of the twists coming

(like Kenzie being her son)

, but that didn't make it feel less compelling. I felt like the letters she did or didn't leave for herself could've been done better or handled better? I felt like the writing around those seemed like an odd thing that the writer used just to try to make the plot happen. That being said, this book made me feel things and tear up, especially

when Madeline was dying.

Def a recommended read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment and Pregnancy

achay91's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug use, Death, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

Moderate: Infidelity and Alcoholism

Minor: Car accident and Homophobia

silversparkles50's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming and Grief

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

passionatereader78's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

It's a tragic love story in so many ways. It has an interesting plot, however   did not like main character. This book frustrated me because Oona refuses to adhere to the advice she leaves for herself. She starts time traveling on her 20th birthday.  Every year on her birthday she has no idea what year she will end up in. The ending left me wanting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Grief, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Car accident, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Minor: Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Cancer, and Homophobia

applejacksbooks's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

3.5

ARGHHH. 

It's super hard to pinpoint my thoughts on this book. The first half of it was so up and down with the content of her first few years time jumping all over the place. The last like 35% of the book is really well done I think with hammering home the point of the story. 

I think the things I struggle with is the concept is really interesting, I just wish the author had dug deeper into Oona's life. So much of the first 60% of the story Oona comes off as this selfish person who completely disregards what the previous year's Oona lays out for her and it was frustrating to read at times (especially the first two jumps). 

I clocked right away that there was more to Kenzie's importance in her life and that Edward was a douche. I guess I'm interested in what the other's in my book club will think of this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Alcohol, Drug use, and Transphobia

wy_woman's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Dysphoria, Stalking, Grief, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Car accident, Violence, and Transphobia

sammietee's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Addiction, and Drug use