Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

29 reviews

impla77's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

2.5

This book was a bit too long for my tastes and dripping with sentimentality. A sweet enough read but definitely  could be more concise

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Racism

pancakethefinch's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

If you are gearing up for a reading challenge this year, you can't go wrong with adding this book to your TBR pile, or even starting your challenge with it, like I did. You'll get a bonus reading list from it!
A true love letter to the power of books and to how fictional stories make us who we are, the story will have you chuckle, cry, and think....
I did have some minor issues with it mostly around

Aidan's suicide and how the family was completely abandoned, with young adults and a minor expected to deal with their mother's disabling and complex mental health needs, but I realised as I was reading that my feeling was the anger at how often this happens in real life too

, and a couple of plot points that went nowhere. The book probably didn't need as many characters as it introduced, as many didn't contribute to the story in any meaningful way. It almost felt like the author had ideas for them that were either edited out or scrapped.

A lot of reviews mentioned that

Aidan's extremely tragic death

happens without warning, but there were very clear signs through the whole story and I like to think that was the writer's intention.
Check on those you care for, even if they are 'doing fine'.

Nevertheless, a great read and a compelling debut novel. I hope to see more from the author soon!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Terminal illness

There is quite a bit of grieving in this book. Something to consider depending on your mood or where you are in life.

cerilouisereads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Death, Abandonment, Grief, and Mental illness

abzster53's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Death, Abandonment, and Mental illness

mysterymom40's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Mental illness, and Death

Minor: Toxic friendship and Abandonment

some slight spoilers for some classic books

bel017's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

Started slow, and then there was too much grief and tragedy to be heartwarming.

A young person, weighed down by too much responsibility, kills themself, and then things start to improve for the person who was the weight on them. It's just so unfair. I did like the sentimental (though highly predictable) reveal at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Death, and Car accident

marga_runa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Death, Abandonment, and Grief

sunshinesp28's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Suicide

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

solacelight's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

Just some brief thoughts

• I could have done without the romance (something I thought I would NEVER say lol)
• I wanted so much to dive more deeply into Aleisha, or I wish that the book would have taken place after
  Aiden's death
  .
• Overall, it felt like this book could have been more
• Regardless, I quite enjoyed it. On a critique level, I would rate this a 3.5, and on enjoyed a solid 4, so I averaged.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol

Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Cancer

Minor: Racism, Death of parent, and Xenophobia

raincityreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Suicide, and Abandonment