Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Bellies by Nicola Dinan

20 reviews

imrereads's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

4.25

I saw someone else describe this as a meditation on vulnerability and intimacy, and I feel that so hard. I'm a little bit at a loss for words, but I felt so close to these characters, and by the last few chapters I did what I almost never do – I cried. I think my biggest issue with this book where the time jumps, for a while I found them very jarring, I couldn't quite tell how much time had passed, but eventually I got into the rythmn of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident

bebobel's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Eating disorder

Moderate: Grief, Death, and Death of parent

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad 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

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

This was such a tender read that follows Ming and Tom’s relationship (romantic, platonic, and non-speaking terms) over the years. We read how two people continue to yearn for and ruminate on the past, and feel so isolated to their present lives.

There’s a “is this fucking play about us?”moment, and though these characters work through seething anger, betrayal, and heartache, it’s ultimately about the gratitude, melancholy, simmering pain, and reverence we hold for past connections. 

If you enjoyed Normal People by Sally Rooney and Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine (read: i wish i hated you, bye, & we can’t be friends), this is your book! (Also, this review doesn't do this book justice & I may try to come back & write a more detailed review .... one day!)

Thank you to my friend @maddysbookopinions for speaking so highly of this book & moving it up on my TBR!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Transphobia

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, and Death of parent

keraashley's review against another edition

4.25

I think if this book was 60 pages shorter, it would have been a 5 star for me. 
It is so overly descriptive, like every movement a person takes and what the chair they're sitting in looks like. 
But the relationship between Ming and Tom is so good, and the growing pains and changes that everyone in this friend group goes through as Ming transitions was very well done. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Death, and Car accident

bootsmom3's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Grief, Drug use, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent

readwithchar's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Transphobia

kirstym25's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Minor: Car accident and Infidelity

alexgo's review against another edition

challenging

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Death, and Grief

Minor: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Infidelity, Drug use, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

estruch's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

drrooly's review against another edition

reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Transphobia