Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

49 reviews

rchaps's review against another edition

4.75

A book about family and found family, finding love and healing from grief.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Death, Cancer, and Terminal illness

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Full review to come.

I had decidedly mixed feelings about The Switch.

The first third of the book was great - it was well-written, the pace was good, and it was funny and heartwarming. It was pretty predictable and cliched, but at that point, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't really care. I thought that the exploration of grief as a theme was well done, especially in how it affects the family members of those who have died - it was very sensitively written. There were also brief references to domestic violence that were also handled well, I thought.

Unfortunately, all of the above was nearly ruined for me by the author using a trope that I really dislike:

the first boyfriend of one of the narrators (Leena) turning out to be a massive two-timing douchebag, so the new love interest can then conveniently swoop in and save the day

. Ugh.  And the fact that

the first boyfriend's redeeming qualities were basically swept aside

. I also disliked that

the new love interest was basically described as being built like a football/rugby/soccer player, and didn't seem to have much personality beyond that. I know that sounds mean, and I'm sorry - but that's how I felt

.

I also disliked how the author had the characters do things that I found ethically questionable, purely to advance the plot.

To sum up: The Switch is a novel that started off well but turned off this reader by using a nasty trope that authors should really stop using.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Racism, and Xenophobia

krisrow's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Cancer

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

eugbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gaslighting

karolinaz's review

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

spellygirl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Infidelity

purplepenning's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death and Sexual content

maggies's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

I might just be bitter because I had high hopes for this book, but it fell very short compared to The Flatshare, which I found clever and touching and true to life. The Switch, while the premise is promising, felt flat, two-dimensional. I struggled to connect with most of the characters, couldn't get a grip on their personalities and motivations, and ultimately really disliked the moral of the story, which boiled down to

"meddling is good."

The HEA was as satisfying as I could expect, given all the above.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Infidelity

stacy837's review

hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Death

Minor: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Infidelity

signalprocess's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Death

Moderate: Terminal illness and Infidelity

Minor: Domestic abuse