Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

24 reviews

b00ks_d0gs's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I was actually enjoying this book until the weird relationship with the main characters. Not my vibe. Also there were some things said in the book I didn’t particularly agree with but you can’t agree with everything in a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Rape

ireneac's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Suicide, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

brunoshort's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Of all the Ellen Hopkins books I’ve read, this one affected me the least. I saw the ending coming so it wasn’t a surprise. The characters have similar traumas even though they’re from very different backgrounds and families. Only three of the characters have their stories fully told and I really only liked 1 of them. The other two were okay but pretty flat considering the intensity of the subject matter and their backgrounds. The biggest WTF? The final challenge patients go through to get out of the institution. It wasn’t thought out very well considering their demographic. I’ll just leave it at that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Child abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Murder and Vomit

beccam22's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

Read this if you like:
🥀🖤 Dark truthful stories
👪👯‍♀️ Found Family


🛑Please read triggers warnings ⚠️

Ellen Hopkins is known for beautiful dark stories and this is nothing less than that. Written in verse, so much is said and conveyed with the lest amount of words and it cuts deep.  Three teenagers go through a treatment program after attempting suicide, each for their own reasons and their own way. They find friendship and love and what is love.

These can be possible spoilers but I feel like it’s needed for some people in depth the possible triggers are: 
 There are detailed descriptions of self harm and suicidal thoughts. All main characters did attempt suicide and it is described in the very beginning how each of them attempted. There is detailed adult/minor relationships as well as rape and grooming. Can be considered forced institutionalization since all main characters are minors and family is requiring them to attend the treatment center. There is a character with bipolar and family history of bipolar, the history does go in depth and how it effected them growing up. There is a character who has an abortion and the guilt from it. There are absent parents, both military and simply leaving for a better life. There are parents who expect perfection and the pressure that comes with that. There is a successful suicide. Please do not read this if you are not in a good head space. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Addiction, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Ableism, Eating disorder, and Homophobia

These can be possible spoilers but I feel like it’s needed for some people in depth the possible triggers are: There are detailed descriptions of self harm and suicidal thoughts. All main characters did attempt suicide and it is described in the very beginning how each of them attempted. There is detailed adult/minor relationships as well as rape and grooming. Can be considered forced institutionalization since all main characters are minors and family is requiring them to attend the treatment center. There is a character with bipolar and family history of bipolar, the history does go in depth and how it effected them growing up. There is a character who has an abortion and the guilt from it. There are absent parents, both military and simply leaving for a better life. There are parents who expect perfection and the pressure that comes with that. There is a successful suicide. Please do not read this if you are not in a good head space.

kristinaneuzil's review

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

xoxorain's review

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Moderate: Drug abuse and Addiction

tristaod14's review

emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Abortion

wama's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Homophobia

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary to me but other than that it was a good book. The ending left me shattered

visual_snow's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

sleepysadpoet's review

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-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? Yes

4.0

This is a reread.
And this book meant a lot to me in high school because of my own personal struggles. As someone studying clinical psychology though, I will admit I'm a bit frustrated with misinformation within.
Granted it came out when everyone was being diagnosed as bipolar, during the late 2000s. Since then, the dsm-V has come out, and the over diagnosis ended, mostly.
And here's the thing.
Vanessa, a character I hold close to my heart, is diagnosed as bipolar because back then everyone who was unstable got that diagnosis. But, as someone with both bipolar II and bpd--her story reads more like BPD. Especially the self harm aspect. Mania is also described incorrectly, as if it lasts hours instead of days to weeks. BPD mood cycles can last hours however. Bipolar is also referred to as BPD in this a couple times which is incredibly incorrect. However, because this came out during the dsm-iv time period, I am able to let that go.
I in many ways relate to Vanessa. Because of my BPD and struggles with self harm. I also have been hospitalized twice, and for the most part Aspen springs reminds me of that. That being said, I didn't have the challenge at the end and I'm so glad I didn't because that's straight up terrifying. I also understand Ellen isn't a psychologist so any misinformation isn't entirely her fault.
Despite those errors, I still adore this book. Because when I read it the first time, I was in a horrible place with untreated bpd. I've read this a few times, as it is one of my favorite books by Ellen Hopkins.
A lot of people call this story unrealistic, but it really isn't, because there are many Tonys, Conners and Vanessas in the world. Along with Dahlia, who's story sort of is like mine, I'm not going into details. 
Back when I read this the first time, I felt hope. This could give a lot of other people like me hope too.
Hate that I noticed the misinformation and got a lil upset though, because if I weren't going into the field I probably wouldn't have known it was misinfo lol.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Suicide