Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

17 reviews

loandbeholdx's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

I've been a fan of Hazel Hayes for years now, so when I heard that she was writing a book I was ecstatic to say the least. When I found out that the audiobook was narrated by the woman herself, I just HAD to listen to it. This isn't my usual type of read. I'm not usually one for romance, but I don't mind it now and again. 
This is a love story, but told in reverse. It explores the love and loss of a woman who once thought her world was coming together, only to have it suddenly halt when her relationship comes to an end. This is the story of someone who reflects on her life from the breakup, up until the very start of the romance. It deals with hard topics, showing how one may process harsh truths and tragedy, as well as exciting new experiences and happy memories. 
I loved the way it seamlessly moved across time periods, and although the main characters life isn't extraordinary, it made the story relatable and hard hitting. 
Hazel Hayes has a way with words, but not only that, her voice is perfect for narration. The main character is also Irish, so Hazel's natural accent suited the character perfectly. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you are interested in giving this one a go. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Drug use

withlovejeans's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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’m combusting. IM COMBUSTING!!!!!!! i have been eager to read this book ever since its release was announced and i realized that my library did not have a copy. the book is a love story, told backwards; it starts after the breakup and traces the relationship all the way to their first meeting. i was at first curious to find out how the time jumps would be acknowledged, and was confused on the timeline during the first few chapters, but realized that hayes foreshadowed each next chapter cleverly. i really liked how i knew so much about the relationship yet so little about the people from the start. by the time i reached the end of the novel, i knew more about both characters than they knew about each other, yet all i could do is bite my lip and let things happen. all at once reflective, edifying, and truthful, “out of love” illustrates the natural demise of the modern relationship.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Sexual violence

skudiklier's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and so emotionally true. I wondered how it would pull off taking you through a relationship backwards, from messy breakup to romantic meeting, but wow Hazel Hayes did it so well. After finishing it I went back and reread the first chapter just to feel it all over again, and notice all the little things I now had so much more context for. Out of Love is all bittersweet nostalgia and new perspectives, and I loved it so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Biphobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Vomit, Violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Car accident

Minor: Cancer, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, War, Child abuse, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Abortion

epellicci's review

dark funny 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

5.0

 Emotionally raw and darkly funny. Out of Love is a book that I adored from start to finish. Exploring a relationship in reverse, taking the reader backwards to a place of hope, it moved me in ways I wasn't expecting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content

kaatelin's review

• Loveable characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Vomit

emmazan's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.75

read on st. thomas trip

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy, Cancer, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

summersnitch's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

It was a nice idea, but I didn't really enjoy it too much. It felt unsatisfying most of the time, because everything was always at least a bit miserable and there rarely really was a time where they actually enjoyed their life. Solid book and a cool idea, but would not read again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, and Domestic abuse