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kimmiefmrcn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
raven_rainbow_crew's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Rep: Alcoholic bisexual female MC, questioning sapphic love interest (possibly lesbian coded but not certain), male side character with OCD and disordered eating, gay male side character with only one eye.
CWs: Alcohol consumption (underage), alcoholism, drug use, eating disorder, mental illness (OCD), misogyny/slut-shaming, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt (off page, before the start), sexual content (not graphic).
CWs: Alcohol consumption (underage), alcoholism, drug use, eating disorder, mental illness (OCD), misogyny/slut-shaming, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt (off page, before the start), sexual content (not graphic).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
alouette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
"I swam up, Violet. We both did."
a beautiful, lyrical, swimmingly fantastic novel. you can tell the author poured their heart into this book, into the achingly real and complex characters, into their relationships, and into the journey they undergo. it was difficult for me to read at first, painful and hitting too close to home, but that's the beauty of it, i suppose. i feel like a better person, more self-aware and more resilient, for the adventure this book took me on. even if the first half was painful and confusing, the second half was comforting and lovely.
"I'm saying our choices matter. Choosing to try... that's not a small thing."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
mariverse's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
This was such a nice reading! I liked the flow and ease of the writing style, how well developed the characters were, and the pacing of the plot. It was an easy but enthralling read that explored grief, friendship and family, love, mental illness, and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicide attempt
bookbug_97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
lexstonum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
heather_lt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is such a difficult book for me to review. I liked it but I also didn't like it, which is an odd experience. Mostly didn't like it because I'm not a fan of contemporary fiction at the best of times and I enjoy YA contemporaries even less. Which isn't really the story's fault.
What made me pick up this book was the mention of a search for a shipwreck, but really it was less about finding a shipwreck and more about fixing the wreck that is the Larkin family. Which is fine. It was the only thing I liked about this story - the multitude of issues it addresses. Mental illness runs rampant in this fictional family and the main character, a teenage girl named Violet, struggles to specifically cope with her little brother's suicide attempt. This book freaked me the heck out because I had no idea it was going to be so relatable to my current life. A case of right book at the right time. I related to Violet so much as my brother attempted suicide too and it touched a raw nerve. It made me... uncomfortable. Shocked me into thinking about it rather than burying it amongst the shit show that was 2020. I appreciate this book for that at least.
On a more objective level, it's angsty. Full of teenagers doing teenage stuff. And a sort-of love triangle. Didn't appreciate that thread of the story. But it is well written and packs an emotional punch. Another reviewer said "my heart grew bigger after reading this" and I certainly agree with that sentiment!
What made me pick up this book was the mention of a search for a shipwreck, but really it was less about finding a shipwreck and more about fixing the wreck that is the Larkin family. Which is fine. It was the only thing I liked about this story - the multitude of issues it addresses. Mental illness runs rampant in this fictional family and the main character, a teenage girl named Violet, struggles to specifically cope with her little brother's suicide attempt. This book freaked me the heck out because I had no idea it was going to be so relatable to my current life. A case of right book at the right time. I related to Violet so much as my brother attempted suicide too and it touched a raw nerve. It made me... uncomfortable. Shocked me into thinking about it rather than burying it amongst the shit show that was 2020. I appreciate this book for that at least.
On a more objective level, it's angsty. Full of teenagers doing teenage stuff. And a sort-of love triangle. Didn't appreciate that thread of the story. But it is well written and packs an emotional punch. Another reviewer said "my heart grew bigger after reading this" and I certainly agree with that sentiment!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
ljhumphreystark's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
karinac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit