Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

107 reviews

cwatson1234's review against another edition

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Mental illness

ellissej's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

This was a promising concept but one too many tropes were included. The characters were almost trying too hard to be complex and so lacked complexity in any authentic way. Certain of the characters, like Victoria - the stepmother, seemed to be "throw away" characters and it would have been great to have had more of her perspective and story told. I found the titular character completely unlikeable and found it problematic that her growth centred so wholly around her relationship with Sagan. Her attempted suicide was clumsily handled and inauthentic and it felt as though the story ended before it was actually over or fully told, I think it would have benefited from a proper epilogue. It also really bothered me the way the Syrian conflict was referenced in Sagan's backstory. The author had a great opportunity to also help educate people about this conflict and missed an opportunity to include resources at conclusion of the novel (as she did with the suicide / depression support). Probably my last Colleen Hoover book as this is now the fourth or fifth one that I've not quite enjoyed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

nbreezy17's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death and Vomit

mickeyreads23's review against another edition

inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt

kat_rowlen's review against another edition

challenging emotional lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Would make for a good beach read! Will this book win any literary awards? Probably not. Will it keep you entertained? Definitely! The chapters were too long, but I didn’t mind it as much as I normally would because I’d get so lost in the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

vanella's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing

Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

kamrynkoble's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.0

This one was definitely on the YA end of the CoHo spectrum. I think I would’ve liked it more as a teenager myself. 

I struggled between being annoyed with the main character and wanting to give her a hug. A lot of the commentary in this one is too heavy handed, which is often one of my complaints with CoHo books. Maybe teenagers need it. 

It’s somehow both extremely quirky and truly sad. I don’t really feel affection toward any of the characters, and the entire plot was them working through their own issues. But it was interesting at the end of the day. Hard to describe how I feel about this one.

If you’re thinking about reading, look up the content warning list. The “steamy” scenes were extremely mild but there’s quite a bit about suicide and depression, amongst other things.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Animal death

_issazeppa12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

lhardy1214's review against another edition

3.0

Could not focus, will try again with actual book.

2nd attempt, pushed through but only cause I'm usually a fan of CoHo. This book was weird...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Cancer and Suicide attempt

This book is very different from what she normally writes. Without spoiling anything, all the things that would be "swept under the rug" are focuses of this story. I enjoyed the story to an extent, but it had weirdness to it that kept unsettling me. I did not appreciate the mess with Luck. Speaking of mental health issues is important, but when you leave a sour taste it defeats the point. I would have given it 5 stars if both Merit and her brother would have found some other person to help "problem solve"

angelrach's review against another edition

3.5

wtf

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Animal death and Mental illness