Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

6 reviews

lbcavender's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.75

The book was not what I expected. I feel like the blurb made the book seem as if it would be more of a small-town fantasy romance novel rather than one with a literal life-or-death situation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicide

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Toxic relationship

ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

1.5

This had potential to be so fun, even with darker themes. It, instead, focused on things that weren’t important and whizzed past the reveals that were supposed to be big. The Bethany of it all was very stereotypical and predictable, the love interest sucked, and it dropped some big dark themes too casually and not very thoughtfully. Also, the diversity included seemed like a performative afterthought. 

It’s sold as a “cozy” read that feels like Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic but it didn’t deliver any of that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Abandonment, Drug use, Addiction, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness

Hey, no dogs or cats die so I guess that’s one win!

roget's review against another edition

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infertility, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

rosh's review against another edition

fast-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? It's complicated

1.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Cancer

Minor: Death of parent, Rape, and Infertility

etl's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

This book was.... not for me. Plot lines that go nowhere, confusing and bizarre christian ideology that comes out of nowhere (in a book about a witch...?), plot holes, a bizarre

dog kidnapping

that I think we're supposed to read as quirky and banter-y, overly-descriptive language while still not actually telling us anything, wildly casual mentions of very serious topics

SA, attempted suicide, murder, and also what essentially amounts to the drugging of an unsuspecting third party... TWICE. SHE DOES IT TWICE

. I can't believe this was marketed as a cozy read tbh.

The only reason I finished this book is because I became absolutely obsessed with the frankly absurd similes and metaphors. The writing is chock full of some truly bizarre writing but by chapter two I started highlighting the comparisons to food (specifically sweet treats) just in case the reader forgot that the main character was a baker. My favorites are below for your reading pleasure:

- "the tenuous peace they'd formed in the kitchen cracked like creme brulee"
- "shaking her momentary mirth off like powdered sugar"
- "excitement brushed along her skin like confectioners' sugar"
- "gingersnap laugh"
- "The air turned sweet like sparkle-dusted rainbow cotton candy"


and my number one, the line I will be thinking about for the rest of my life:
- "hugs were passed around like a tray of chocolate truffles, sweet and decadent until too much made you sad for no reason" - huh. huh?I have never ever been sad due to too many chocolate truffles OR too many hugs. sick? yes. touched out? yes. sad...? am I missing something? do chocolates and hugs make people sad?

Overall I counted 41 instances of food-related symbolism, and this doesn't include anything from chapter one or descriptive language like "butter-soft" or "caramel-colored" because at least those descriptions make sense.

I'm sure this book is for someone. That someone is not me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Mental illness, Cancer, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Pregnancy and Infertility

midnitebrz's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

Thank you netgalley and publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book
This book was amazing. It made me fall in love with the characters and really feel for them. I cried a few times, not gonna lie. Sadie in the beginning is so closed off to everyone because she is afraid of another heartbreak, yet she does so much good for her community. She feels realistic and I like that she is 28 rather than the younger protagonists that are in most books. It shows how an adult handles the challenges of life. Also, she is relatable to most who love to read from when Raquel says, "No way. Time ceases to exist for you in bookstores, and I'm not sitting by for three hours while you get hot over books you have no intention of buying," and Sadie responds,"But they need me." Yes, Sadie, I too drag my loved ones around book stores to look at books.
 I think the book does a good job of invoking a sense of community as they come together to help her family in their time of need. I also love how the family works together despite past troubles, finding a rhythm that is familiar. My heart also goes out to Jake who is really just a sweet guy trying to do what is right and doing his best. 
On another note, I think the recipes in between chapters is a really unique idea and it feels like we're getting to see Sadie write her cookbook as the story unfolds. I have the recipes bookmarked and plan on trying a few, especially the orange honey vanilla scones. I also had fun trying to guess what recipe was going to be at the end of the chapter based off of what Sadie had made, it was like a little mystery that was revealed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Terminal illness

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Infertility

Minor: Pregnancy