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Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'
Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall
100 reviews
soph_la's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Violence and Murder
kaistephan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
5.0
Alexis Hall once again delivers a story that is seamlessly laugh-until-you-can't-breathe funny, a sharp critique of the British class system, a visceral portrait of living in a brain with mental illness, and a very sincere romance that, even though it is single POV, still have very balanced character arcs. Heck, even the Best Friend manages to feel like a real person and not just a plot device, a true rarity for romance novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia and Islamophobia
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Islamophobia, Racism, and Homophobia
habibbity's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I understand that Paris is meant to be unlikable, Alexis Hall makes this clear throughout the entire book. To be fair to Paris, I was probably just as much of a self-loathing, mentally ill mess at 21. Nonetheless, I still found this book unbearable to read. In fact, I only got around to completing it so I could air out my grievances with this review.
Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.)
Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)
Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.)
Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
I understand that Paris is meant to be unlikable, Alexis Hall makes this clear throughout the entire book. To be fair to Paris, I was probably just as much of a self-loathing, mentally ill mess at 21. Nonetheless, I still found this book unbearable to read. In fact, I only got around to completing it so I could air out my grievances with this review. Maybe if Paris’ grating personality was surrounded by a likable cast of characters I would have had an easier time reading this? But instead, we have a very one-dimensional, roommate with barely three personality traits and a love interest who is actually very interesting but spends much too much time as Paris’ punching bag and crutch. I loved the concept of the diverse cast of British bakers but we don’t see enough of them to change the quality of the book (in my opinion.) Ultimately, I appreciate Alexis Hall’s attempt at giving us a self-sabotaging, not so likable protagonist. It was a risky task and for me, it fell flat (insert baking pun about flat cake or bread or something.)kharlan3'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
wow paris is so anxious
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Abandonment
katewutz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hall does a great, empathetic job at depicting the ways anxiety makes one selfish. When one is constantly expecting the world to collapse, that’s all one can think about—to the detriment of others. The irony of Paris always caring about what others think AND his inability to empathize with what others must be feeling is interestingly explored.
The anxiety could have been a little less heavy-handed, but then it wouldn’t have been such a problem for Paris and Tariq. And this is a realistic depiction of some people’s experiences! Just personally I would like to see a character who’s not Harry (“oh yeah I was a bit worried but now I’m on meds, all good”) and Paris (literally engulfed in catastrophizing all the time, has a VERY dramatic panic attack). But that’s literally just about wanting to see my experience, not a problem with Hall’s work at all.
Also, we know Hall can write a FANTASTIC sex scene, but this book shows that they aren’t a crutch. Rosaline Palmer had a similar vibe, but Hall worked the lack of sex into character development here. Excellent work.
The anxiety could have been a little less heavy-handed, but then it wouldn’t have been such a problem for Paris and Tariq. And this is a realistic depiction of some people’s experiences! Just personally I would like to see a character who’s not Harry (“oh yeah I was a bit worried but now I’m on meds, all good”) and Paris (literally engulfed in catastrophizing all the time, has a VERY dramatic panic attack). But that’s literally just about wanting to see my experience, not a problem with Hall’s work at all.
Also, we know Hall can write a FANTASTIC sex scene, but this book shows that they aren’t a crutch. Rosaline Palmer had a similar vibe, but Hall worked the lack of sex into character development here. Excellent work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Homophobia
marmarta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It's a good book, but it's not a good romance (for me). I loved the portrayal of generalized anxiety disorder, the realism in the characters' struggles etc.; but what I wanted was a lovely, happy story about love, but I got 300 pages of anxiety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
atsuanna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
2.0
( More of a 2.5 but rounded up ) I was way too ace for the amount of sexual humor sometimes and there was little progress for so long that it was very back forth. I think I would’ve liked it more if it wasn’t romance because I loved the character development and the idea but the romance was lackluster for me and not something I was rooting for </3 The GAD was very accurate and relatable for me plus it was very funny and cute at times!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Abandonment
robin_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.75
Paris is going on Bake Expectations because his room mate and friend signed him up to make him see that he can do awesome things.
I loved this, as I’ve loved every other Alexis Hall book.
My only little thing is that I wished for a bit more of a wrap-up at the endI’d love to know if he managed to talk to his parents or if he cut them off but I guess it was an implied thing anyways so this is really just me beign a bit petty. Sorry for that.
Other than that this is an awesome story about realizing who you are and that mental health matters and people aren’t there to heal you or make you better, it’s something you have to do yourself.
I loved this, as I’ve loved every other Alexis Hall book.
My only little thing is that I wished for a bit more of a wrap-up at the end
Other than that this is an awesome story about realizing who you are and that mental health matters and people aren’t there to heal you or make you better, it’s something you have to do yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
caitlancole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness