Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

19 reviews

blankeechats's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

3.5

My first book by Karen M. McManus, this wasn't a 4 star or higher just because I wasn't totally invested in the story. I feel like if it had been longer I definitely would have liked it better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence, Blood, Gun violence, and Alcohol

minimicropup's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Cute, cynical, melancholic

Three middle school friends that grew apart by high school incidentally reunite to skip classes because they are all having a bad, off, or distracted day.
We're following the three high school students with very different families, backgrounds, and goals.
Set in the Boston and surrounding area (USA).

Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐺🐕:

• 👍 I enjoyed it overall. The characters were all relatable and if you're not a young adult, the nostalgia around friendship, freedom, and how every moment feels so "big" was accurate.
• 🤷‍♀️ At around the 75% mark I started to want the wrap-up to occur. There are predictable moments and for some parts it doesn't negatively affect the story, but for other parts it starts to feel slow/stalled/bit repetitive. 

Cred Rating: Realistic/Plausible with OTT bits

Mood Reading Match Up:

• Adventures while skipping class (slowly evolving into adventure, not OTT)
• High school and family drama around $$, student politics, and crushes
• Platonic friendships and "missed chance" romance  

 

Content Head-Up: Adult/minor emotional relationship. Drugs (pills). 

Format: Hardcover

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Violence

readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Cursing and Alcohol

ilo_the_duck's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug use

Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Death

deadgirlwalking23's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Infidelity, and Violence

readerorwateva's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

Minor: Vomit

themoodreader's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Drug use, Racism, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Blood

z_thatsit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Pedophilia, Cursing, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Racism

Minor: Child death, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Car accident

emily_mh's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

If I was rating this solely based off enjoyment, it would be 5 stars. There were some definite issues with quality that meant I felt I should dock it a full star. But first, the positives! It was incredibly fast-paced and gripping, taking place over just a day (to this end, I thought it lived up to the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off gone wrong premise). Actual investigation took place, and the romance was actually believable (unlike the other two romances I’ve read of McManus). Finally, the situations and subsequent developments of the characters were really strong. 

In terms of negatives, the character personalities (despite their diverse circumstances) were all fairly generic. More significantly, it was a little messy.

For example, it didn’t really tie up who the Coach got to kill Brian.

Finally, while I didn’t hate the resolution, I didn’t love it either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Violence, and Drug use

Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Medical content, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Minor warnings for gentrification, loss of a loved one, death of a pet, divorce.

frantically's review

adventurous challenging reflective fast-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

3.0

An interesting enough story but one that sadly just didn't grip me enough. After not liking "The Cousins" too, I'm thinking this will be it for me and McManus.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness, Classism, and Car accident

Minor: Alcohol