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mandyherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I can see why it’s polarising in many ways but the writing is so beautiful that I want to buy a copy just to highlight it because I loved the writing so much.
The main character is Martha, a 40-year-old with a mental illness that is never named but is most likely bipolar disorder. It’s not an easy read at all and it may be triggering for some but I’m glad I read it and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
aileen_macalister's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mosan writes a complex and altogether frustrating character that makes you read on just in the hope that some good will come of it.
She says this book is about more than mental health and I can see that point of view. At it's core though the story would not unfold without the mental health struggles and the mental health struggles would not happen without the story.
I was not expecting this to be as much about motherhood as it was. Without giving too much away, I found it's description of motherhood and the conflicting thoughts women in today's society, especially those who struggle with mental health, have on the subject raw and beautiful.
I wish I could have scored it a 4/5 but I could not get past the style choices which is very much a personal preference but it really distracted me from the book's core themes and message. So 3.5/5 is where I have settled.
Graphic: Infertility, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abortion
Minor: Death and Death of parent
daisytudball's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
epellicci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
kindakoselig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Miscarriage
thequeenofsheba3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicide
Minor: Suicide attempt
rambling_reading's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse
helenajoy_'s review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
samvgass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Pregnancy
shutupiamreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I appreciate a well-written story about mental illness but this particular narrator really wasn’t for me and a lot of the little paragraphs just felt very disjointed.
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Racism