Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

9 reviews

cyndi1966's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Infertility, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death, and Miscarriage

Minor: Car accident

lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent

thereadingsaint's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cancer, Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow. I loved everything about this book: the family and political drama, the curse of Fontana second-born daughters, the travel through Italy, everything. 

As a girl with an Italian grandmother and German grandfather, Poppy and Rico's story hit me in a different way,

especially when a twist revealed Emilia (and Daria) were their grandchildren, not Rosa's.

How the curse affected the family -- from Rosa's desperation to wed and bear children, to Daria's prison of family, to Lucy's self-betrayal, and Emilia's forced contentment -- the women of the Fontana family suffered for generations, each poisoning the last in defense of their own actions and choices. 

If nothing else, the book taught me so much about hope and determination, that no matter what obstacles lie before you, "it's possible." This was a cathartic getaway and poignant reminder to choose love, life, and joy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and War

madsmcw_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

dianasreadingcorner_01's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

To be honest, I expected a lot more from this book. I’d heard good things about it and the premise sounded interesting, but it ended up being just okay. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and a bit annoying, and I got secondhand embarrassment for them in more than one scene. I did like the ending though!

I was so worried that the author was going to let Emilia end up with her childhood friend despite her clearly not having real chemistry with him, so I was happy that it worked out. I wish he hadn’t ended up with her cousin (was that their relationship? idk) and reminded me a little of the Jo/Laurie/Amy love triangle in Little Women, but better than ending up miserable with your childhood bestie, amiright?

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Happy! It definitely got very close to the end before things were resolved, so I was fully prepared for it to end in a way I didn’t like, but thank god things got wrapped up eventually!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

pagesandplannersabroad's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

herbivorereader's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy