Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

25 reviews

imstephtacular's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

I liked that this book was funny, full of tropes, and tackled some tough topics. 

That said, I felt like it tried to do too much. 400 pages was too long for my liking and the meta-ness didn’t quite hit for me. I liked that it got into industry details. That was fascinating! But the “is this romance or is it women’s fiction” ended up feeling muddled for me overall 

I liked the characters and the mixed media elements (texts, emails) but this one wasn’t a knockout for me personally

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Dementia

Moderate: Sexism, Grief, Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Ableism, and Vomit

sunkissed_aidie's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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

This book was honestly so fun to go through, there were moments where I wanted to cry, scream and others where it had me giggling and kicking my feet. It was a fast read but still great nonetheless, it’s a simply romance book that was given a great twist in who the characters are and what they are going through, especially learning to be  and love themselves before loving someone else. I loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Dementia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Body shaming, and Medical trauma

kylasmv15's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Medical content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Body horror

eligru's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Medical content, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent and Grief

Minor: Drug abuse

cady_sass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.0

I am *very* picky about audiobooks, to the point that I know it’s unfair and illogical and so I tend to not listen to them at all, but I like Julia Whalen. A lot. I find her very talented and enjoyable to listen to. Now, bring me a book of written by an audiobook narrator ABOUT audiobook narrators and it seems only fair (and totally obvious) that it need to be consumed via audio. Right? So, of course, I did. Now please refer back to my comment about being unfairly judgmental and illogically picky about audiobooks and take my review with a grain of salt. I believe this book is good and if I had read it on page I would’ve loved it more, possibly. The characters are unique and flawed and diverse, the banter is funny and witty and cute. BUT…. But… you can tell an audiobook narrator wrote this. There are characters who exist solely for the purpose of the narrator [author] showing off her skills in accents. Which, for the record, is good (with the exception of the Bostonian ex boyfriend with the most horrendous Boston accent I’ve ever hear and take person offense to), but there’s no real reason for them. I also have mixed feelings about a white author writing about the plight of a black woman in Hollywood… but it does seem (to me, another white woman, to note) to be handled somewhat carefully. Just perhaps not her story to tell, again, as a white woman who was a former actress. I guess all this to say some of this felt inauthentic but it’s hard to parse that from what I HEARD and wish I would’ve just read the book 🤷🏻‍♀️ don’t come for me. I still gave it 4 stars!! There’s quality story here and a lot of fun.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Dementia, Sexual content, Racism, Suicide, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Self harm, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Drug use, and Suicide attempt

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

2.0

I had only heard great things about this book by THE amazing Julia Whelan so once I finished the book, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. 

I LOVED the banter/dialogue between Nick and Swan, the tension and their feelings for each other really leapt off the page, even from their first interaction. However, I feel like the story was really weighed down by all the other side plots. Swan’s grandma, Swan’s best friend, her mom, there were so many things and life events that kept happening to keep Swan and Nick apart it started feeling comical. Also the book felt incredibly long for a romance, there just seemed to be conflict after conflict happening. 

Also, and I know Swan had to work through a lot of internalized things that she felt about herself because of the accident, but I felt like she was always picking fights with Nick. Not believing him, questioning his intentions at every turn and always arguing with him and projecting onto him. That part of the book just felt very unhealthy/gross to me. They would have this big blowup fight, right after he ran to her aid after

her grandma tried to commit suicide FYI

and Swan starts yelling at him. It just didn’t make any sense to me. She was always way too hard on him and he was nothing but nice and caring to her the entire book. Just my two cents but he would literally be so nice to her and then she would suddenly turn on him and start projecting/yelling at him. Not romantic. 

Side note: also I know that people have nicknames/pet names for their grandparents like Mimi, Memaw, Papa. But Blah Blah??? Every time her name was mentioned, it took me out of the story. Could never take it seriously and that stinks because what is going on with her is super serious but her name felt comical, like a joke I missed out on all while she’s battling Alzheimer’s . It just didn’t make sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Abandonment, Dementia, Cursing, Death, Grief, Addiction, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness

laheath's review

emotional lighthearted 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

After enjoying so many audiobooks narrated by Julia Whelan, I had to listen to a book that she authored as well as narrated.  It was an interesting glimpse behind the scenes of audiobook production, though it doesn't get bogged down with the details.  I enjoyed the cast of characters and all the side stories of which there was just enough without it detracting from the main plot.  The details of the main character's relationship with her grandmother during her battle with dementia were especially heart-wrenching but well-written.  The main storyline was unique, not predictable like so many of this genre.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death

kimveach's review

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad fast-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

You have to listen to this book!  I don't know how good it would be in print.  This narrator is fantastic, and her book showcases all her gifts:  male and female voices, accents, younger vs. older voices, and other sounds.  It was an amazing listen.  It's a romance book, but it's got more substance than you would expect.  And there are a few laugh-out-loud parts that are so worth it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Dementia, Death, Medical trauma, and Ableism

takarakei's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

4.25

Really fantastic audiobook. I had heard a lot of hype, but the narrator/author really does a great job (lots of voices!). It's a cute and refreshing romance book. Lots of poking fun at the romance book industry (in the way only someone who loves it can do). Banter is phenomenal. Definitely lots of laugh out loud moments. The "twist" is predictable, but it's still fun to read. Disability rep (MC). Wish there was a bit more spice, especially with so much build up of them literally working on recording a romance audiobook.

I really loved towards the end when they were like "we don't need a big 3rd act drama/breakup" !!!

2.5/5 🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Ableism, Alcohol, and Medical content

Minor: Addiction, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

A main plot point of this book is the MC dealing with her grandmother's dementia.

karolinaz's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content