Reviews tagging 'Death'

How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

48 reviews

soph1sh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

aw man ☹️ that was so ☹️☹️ sad ugh but also slightly comforting in a way?? idk it’s weird. and i kind of loved it which sounds bad because it’s a book about death and grief but… i don’t know. it was really moving i guess? and like reflective. i think it’s one of those books that just opens your eyes to grief and how consuming it is. like, i know that if anyone here died i would be devastated and i don’t think i’d ever get over it. and i understand how annoying it must be when people tell you to be strong and that it’ll get better because how are you meant to believe that when that person is just. gone??? in terms of the actual book, i really liked the writing style, i literally couldn’t put the book down. it’s weird cause it’s not like there was a huge plot (not that that’s a criticism, it’s just a different kind of book), but i just kept on reading and reading.

i really love shayna ☹️ wasn’t sold at first but her and tiger are such a cute little family you know? i also really like mae-lynn, she seems cool. i’m glad her and tiger became friends. and i’m glad tiger moved away from mesa luna with shayna, i think it’s good that she got a clean break from everything that reminded her of her mum. omg and lala :(( i loved her tbh i think she was exactly what tiger needed because she was so lovely and gentle and kind. also thaddeus !!! love him <33 he was so lovely with tiger. i thought maybe they’d get together but actually i’m glad they’re just friends.

i just really think this was such an eye-opening book?? definitely worth the read. i’m interested to read her other books now,, i wasn’t sure about girl in pieces bc i thought i might not like it bc obviously self harm is very unpleasant but idk i feel like i could take it? maybe

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion

there are more things but overall check the tws, there is obviously death but also other things like alcohol, grief, abuse, etc so just be careful

kalin_grace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

makaylarose's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, and Abandonment

Minor: Car accident and Alcohol

veramele's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Blood, and Alcohol

anaya_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I think this book did a great job on tackling the experience of grief, especially at a young age. As someone who has lost a parent figure at the same age as Tiger, a lot of the concepts were spot on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Abortion, and Abandonment

theelisa's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abortion

whimsylindsey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

olivialandryxo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This review is spoiler-free. Content warnings for the book are listed at the end.

This was a dark, emotional story about loss, grief, and living after you lose someone you love. At times, it was hard to read. Glasgow put so much feeling into every chapter, and it was evident. Reading this was reading about one of my biggest fears, and at times, it really hit close to home.

The issue is that I didn’t get invested in the story until two-thirds through. The characters were well-written, but it took a significant amount of time for me to get attached in any way. Even so, I was more curious about how the plot would pan out rather than what would happen to any given person.

One thing in this book’s favor is that it’s one of the most unique contemporaries I’ve read in some time. Very few contemporaries can tackle the themes this one does and make it work.

I wish I could pinpoint other things I liked and disliked, but honestly, I can’t. How to Make Friends with the Dark isn’t a bad book, and if you can handle the content, maybe you’ll enjoy it. It hurt my heart, but I’m also ready to be done with it, if that even makes sense.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Contains: death of a parent, grief, suicidal ideation, mentions of suicide & child abuse, underage drinking, drunk driving, car accident