Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Fetele care am fost cândva by Tess Sharpe

21 reviews

holliesatchell's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0


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goddaniiit's review against another edition

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

5.0

Sometimes, you just KNOW a book is going to be worth 5 stars right off the bat. That's how I felt as soon as I started my book annotation journey with this book in particular. I went insane not just with the witty narration style but also with the amount of details showcased at the start of every chapter. The Flashbacks might've been a problem to others but, maybe this is on me being an anime viewer, I found that it was shown to the reader/s at the perfect time. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to guess how they were going to get out of the situations they were in whilst getting a better understanding of what each individual 'girls' thought process is like.

I'm also a sucker for the found family troupe. So, seeing Nora and Wes banter all throughout was very enjoyable to read about. As I also like some angst sprinkled along, the aftermath of their break-up was handled really well especially with how great of a middle-man Wes played during Truth for Truth between Nora and Iris. Speaking of Iris, Her chaotic energy truly brings me life.

As curious as I am for a sequel (since the resolution made it seem like that was a possibility and I would love to see more of Lee if I'm being honest), I also wouldn't mind if it just stayed as a standalone. It works either way - as the reader sees how far Nora has grown as a character when comes to a conclusion about her identity and how her trauma doesn't define who she is.

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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book about a girl who was forced to be anything but for her entire life. It was exciting and thrilling and dramatic and sad. A great YA thriller about a smart girl who finally becomes herself. 

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kate_mare's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

You need to read this book if you like lgbtqia and strong characters. This book reads incredebly fast and youll feel emphethy 

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krhe's review against another edition

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

3.5

Llevo unos días pensando en cómo escribir esta reseña y sigo sin saber muy bien cómo hacerlo. 

Trata varios temas complicados, y sí bien algunos fueron un poco yikes, uno de los temas más jodidos se trató desde el respeto y la suficiente distancia como para no volverse catalizador traumático. Que teniendo en cuenta el historial, está bien no ser gráficos. 

Tiene un ritmo como raruno, y algo me olía sobre cómo iba a desarrollarse el argumento desde bastante pronto. Y acerté con el último twist de los capítulos finales. 

El final me ha dejado un poco ñeh tho. 

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lucytoo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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_rae6021's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75


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galexy_brain's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful 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

3.75


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oblivisal's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3.5/5 stars.

TW: Mental illness, murder, abuse, sexual abuse + assault
etc.

I heard good things about this from boston reads over on youtube. Granted they hadn’t finished the book yet but had definitely sold me on it.

   Nora; Rebecca, Samantha, Katie, Haley and Ashley.
Nora has had the life that anyone would love to read, to learn and to gossip about, but would never want to live for themselves. Her entire life was five different roller coasters that didn’t come down until the sixth mile mark.

   Nora is gay (bisexual), strong, and furious but she is most  importantly, herself. Throughout the entire book Nora struggles with who she is, what her identity is and if she’ll ever find who she is destined to be.

   Although there are many other things to mention about this book like her mother, Abby, her stepdad Raymond, her girlfriend Iris, her sister Lee and her-ex boyfriend turned best friend Wes, it doesn’t truly need to be mentioned. Why? Because this is a book about a girl that did not have a normal life, a childhood or even an identity. It is about abuse (i.e. physical, mental + sexual abuse) mental illness, conning, murder, mystery and everything that can come with the life of being a con-artist. Of being raises by one and as one.

   !!TW!!: I definitely recommend this book but just be wary of all the trigger warnings. Make sure to do your research beforehand. There is no on page sexual abuse, assault or molestation but it can still be triggering.

   Is this really just a three in a half star read? I haven’t written a review like this in awhile so that’s gotta say something about the book.

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olivialandryxo's review against another edition

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

5.0

I read Sharpe’s novel Far From You last year and loved it, so I was excited to read her newest release. The Girls I’ve Been is a fast-paced thriller with a sapphic couple front and center. I absolutely loved it. I was intrigued from the very first page, and sped through it because I desperately wanted to know what happened next. I was kept on my toes the entire time I read, and never knew what to expect.

Nora was a complex yet realistic and relatable protagonist. I loved her, Iris, and Wesley. Their friendship was amazing, as was Nora and Iris’ romance. Also, major props to Iris for being so resilient and clever while on her period, because I could never. These two are the most badass girls I’ve seen outside of a fantasy book, hands down. The fact that they’re dating makes it even better. *chefs kiss*

The story features two timelines: one in present day where the three teens end up hostages in an armed bank robbery, and one exploring Nora’s past as she grew up frequently moving and helping her mother with various cons. The former takes place over about twelve hours, with a few chapters at the end of the book detailing what occurred in the following weeks. Both were intriguing, and they were managed well, balanced perfectly. Neither one ever seemed to overpower the other.

I don’t read many thrillers, but Sharpe’s are among the best I’ve read and this one is undoubtedly my favorite. I’ll definitely be reading more from her in the future, and trying other authors as well. My interest in the genre has certainly been renewed.

Representation:
  • bisexual protagonist
  • sapphic love interest with endometriosis
  • sapphic romance (f/f)

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