perchance_a_tale's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Depressing and dispiriting.
oeronen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lilyloveslibby's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
alpha_build's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.5
stwriter92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was lent to me by a student at the school I teach at and it was definitely a surprising read. I don't think I've read such a raw depiction of grief and depression before. At first I strongly disliked the main character, who remained unnamed throughout, which I think was a good thing because it removed a barrier between her as a narrator and myself as a reader. Watching her spiral more and more, becoming more and more dependent on sleep medication (an echo of the sort of thing that killed her mother) to keep all feelings, relationships, and truths away.
I know that we were supposed to see her friend Reva as a pathetic person, but I think she was a better character than the narrator. Was she pushy and overbearing? Yes. However, she seemed to also be going through a similar thing to our narrator. Instead of burying herself, she reaches out. Her story, I think, was the real tragedy of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Suicide
hotgirlbooksandtea's review against another edition
5.0
Great to accompany you through a mental breakdown. There's surprisingly a lot of talk about body image.
In some parts too sexual for my taste.
In some parts too sexual for my taste.
kelly_gar's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-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
4.0
A very weird and unusual book but somehow still enjoyable!
jaswoahreads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Well written, but the main character was so horribly unlikable that I hated it. All the most interesting parts of the book happen during her drug induced blackouts so we only get to see the MC insufferably speculating about where she might have been. I don't think this author is for me at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
Minor: Abortion
lauravanvaerenbergh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5