Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

185 reviews

sofipitch's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-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

4.5

This is a heartbreaking family drama, looking at generational trauma. And for the most part what is so frustrating is that most of the families issues would be solved through better communication. It's not the most dramatic story, it's actually quite common. If you look at this review and feel discouraged it does have a somewhat happy ending

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Grief, and Abandonment

avasbookmark's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.25

This book is very similar in tone and content to Ng’s sophomore novel “Little Fires Everywhere”. Like “Little Fires”, it explores family dynamics and themes of race and belonging. It takes place in small-town Ohio and revolves around a mystery, introduced on page one that unfolds and reveals itself as the book progresses. 

I love the way Celeste Ng writes from the perspectives of different characters, always with such empathy and depth. As an author, she places you inside a family’s life, zooming in to individual family members, then back out, seamlessly, to reveal the impact of each character’s experiences and thoughts on the others. 

What knocked it down from 5 stars for me, was the almost disappointing lack of a thrilling, mystery element. This was hinted at and touched upon at times, but never really explored. What happened to Lydia could have been delved into a little more. The queer storyline with Jack was also barely developed. Jack’s character was fairly one-dimensional and his queerness/relationship with Nath could have been treated with as much care and detail as the rest of the story.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Xenophobia, and Grief

daeadevil's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, and Grief

emilo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief

Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, and Violence

booksandhappyhabits's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, and Grief

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

sunny_not's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide

shane_delier's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, and Grief

ambergogan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

an amazing story about grief, family, and academics. anyone who has had other people’s hopes & dreams pushed onto them will love this book. 

the first half is a bit repetitive, but when you look through the lens of the family it makes perfect sense. this family is ruminating on the grief and trauma that comes with losing a child. the repetition only helps you empathize and enter their headspace. 

throughout this book i found pieces of myself in all of the siblings and fell in love with celeste’s writing style and flow. i would’ve loved a biiittt more closure/drama at the end but this book literally got me out of a reading slump so i’d call that a win!!!!! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Grief

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism