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greeneerie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
hannah2896's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Death, Bullying, Car accident, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Death of parent
chloegrell's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
sakisreads's review against another edition
- 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
I should have realised this was a Macbeth-esque story, but I haven’t read Shakespeare in so long 🫠 Oops!
Content warnings are below, as usual!
I whizzed through this, not necessarily because it was written well but because there was always some discomfort lurking within (and I suppose Matt Haig’s intention was to write it as a 11 year old boy whose grammar isn’t going to be great) 😳
I’m giving it a 3.5 out of 5 stars ✨ Not sure what to read next to be honest 😂 This one put me in a weird place!
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
ruthypoo2's review
- 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
4.25
The adolescent voice created by author Matt Haig is so on point. Philip is a very bright and interesting kid who is wonderful at observing others and describing his world. He doesn’t want to believe what his dead father says to him or do what’s being asked of him, but feelings of loyalty to someone you love are hard to refuse. The sometimes zany situations in which Philip finds himself experiencing because of interactions with his dead father are beyond what you’d expect of a child, but not too far out there that they’re unbelievable. Philip’s explanation of what happens is done with the rationale you’d expect of a clever eleven-year-old boy.
This story makes so much sense when looked at through the lens of the main character being a child dealing with deep and profound grief that he may not yet be ready to move on from. The mind works in mysterious ways. There’s also a really good mystery or two running through the storyline, and almost a comedy of confusion that persists because no one is talking to Philip. But it is clear that the boy is loved by family and other adults in his life. I very much appreciated that being loud and clear in the book.
This is a very good story with excellent writing and character development. I highly recommend regardless of the reader’s familiarity with Hamlet.
I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator, pre-teen Andrew Dennis, was stellar. Mr. Dennis’s nuanced performance brought the source material to life and there could not have been a better choice for this book.
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
kimseokjinschild's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
📈 Lost Interest a couple of times
📈Couldn't get use to writing layout
Graphic: Death, Bullying, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
laurataylor's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
megamog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Bullying, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcohol, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders