Reviews with content warning for Grief - Pack Up the Moon

I would give this book 10 stars if I can, and I’m glad I didn’t dnf (wanted to dnf cos i don’t deal well with sad books) because it’s such a good book!!!! This makes you cry one moment and laugh the next and cry again in an instance. PSA do not read this book outside of your home or risk looking a lil crazy. also prepare lots of tissue and maybe some ice pack for your swollen eyes (from all the crying). I was a sobbing mess reading this book and then laughing the next moment and then feeling warm and fuzzy. I don’t think I’ve read a book with such good character development in awhile. You can really see Josh’s grief and how he dealt with it and grow with it. And you can feel Josh’s and Lauren’s love for each other, and everyone else love for Josh. If anyone is thinking of reading this, yes you should and I don’t know what took me so long to read this book.

I just wanted to comment on how i felt it was perfect that Lauren was wrong about Josh and Sarah but maybe by some cosmic design (if one really believes in that) still brought Josh together with Rose. I think the way it ended with Lauren being wrong helped Josh moved (even more) forward in a way. and the way the book was structured made so much sense but also made it more heartbreaking: how josh chapters moves forward counting the months since Lauren’s death, while in the lauren chapters it moves backwards and showing us how she fell sick how she fell in love and how she grew as a person. absolutely heartbreaking with the contrast between the two pov.

Content Warnings

thereadingnook's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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

Wow. 10/10 would recommend this if you want a true gut-wrenching cry. You know, that cry where you’re sobbing and snot is coming out of your nose. This was - is - such a beautifully written book that explores the journey of grief. Josh is a new widower. His wife Lauren suffered from a terminal illness called IBF and at 27 years old, passes away. Lauren left Josh letters: one for each month throughout the first year following her death. I love that the letters start with small, mundane tasks that those grieving typically find themselves neglecting to do, and gradually build into bigger, life-changing decisions.

I loved that throughout the book, there’s alternating POVs and timelines - Lauren’s, leading up to her diagnosis & as she navigates the diagnosis/end of life, and Josh’s, post-Lauren’s death. I also enjoyed that Lauren wrote letters regularly to her deceased father. I lost my dad 8 years ago, and I journal letters to my dad here and there. I’ve recently been struggling with grief surrounding the loss of my ex-boyfriend, the man who I deemed “The Love of My Life”; it’s been 7 months since he’s passed and I’ve been riding that roller coaster of the stages of grief since. Grief is something I’m all too familiar with and related to in this book.

I felt a deep connection to this story and the characters: their thoughts, behaviors and actions. I adored the character development and the chemistry between both Lauren & Josh. I loved the pleasant, happier, hopeful ending - the kind that really does satisfy the heart.

This is only my third completed book of the year (I’ve been in a jumbo reading slump) but it’s now also my first 5-star read of 2023 💙💚

Content Warnings

sarahmae531's review against another edition

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challenging 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? Yes

5.0

What an emotional book. Sobbed through an entire chapter.
Loved the dual perspective and how Josh’s POV moved forward in time and Lauren’s moved back in time, showing us every part of their relationship in different ways. All of the characters were so lovable and had their flaws, making them seem so real.
Definitely not a feel good story, but I loved the way it all tied together, and the ending wasn’t depressing. Would definitely recommend if you want a book that will make you cry. Also the audiobook version was amazing, loved both of the narrators!

Content Warnings

carmenflorea's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-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

4.0

Content Warnings

meganwhitis's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

This is such a beautiful book. It follows the relationship between Josh and Lauren.

Shortly after their wedding, Lauren is diagnosed with a chronic illness and told she would only live a few years. In order to help her husband through his grief, she has written him letters, one for the first 12 months following her death. Each letter has a task for him to do (ie. Have people over, buy a new bed, kiss another woman). The story jumps around between the past and present and between Lauren and Josh's POVs. We see all of the happy, the sad, and the devastating moments in their relationship.

It is such an emotional read, so be prepared to cry.

Content Warnings

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

I sobbed like a baby

Content Warnings

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