Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

104 reviews

absonfire's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

ruaruarua's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Classism, and Blood

madanxiety's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

An interesting narrative. I liked how it was as much about the characters as individuals (or more so even) than their relationship. In fact, I think by spending so much time on their individual journeys, it made me see them as truly compatible partners.

My biggest gripe was the whole Jacob relationship. It was difficult to be sympathetic of Emily tbh, and I just wanted to get back to Sarah 😂. Like how are you going to knowingly get involved w a married man and then get butt hurt about it? I know there was a power dynamic at play with him being her boss, but still like it was excruciating listening to her literally say "mm, I don't wanna do this" and then do it anyway 😭. But I suppose that was the point. Character growth and all.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia

bencaroline's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Blood, Child death, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual assault, Cancer, War, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Racism, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia

lovealwaysadi's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Minor: Toxic relationship and Terminal illness

smillas_tales's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

Vulnerable, inspiring, and unapologetically queer are all things that come to mind when I think of Yerba Buena. I read this back in February and while literary fiction usually doesn’t draw me in, this one did and has stayed with me since! 

This is not a book about queer joy, but it’s a book about the many ways queer joy prevails through hardships. It’s a book about enduring trauma, living with grief, and, most of all, about finding your path in life despite all of it. 

In less than 300 pages we follow the slowly converging paths of Sara and Emelie from their adolescence and well into their adulthood, through all the heartbreaking events they experience and the difficult choices they have to make along the way. This book touches on so many difficult topics, so be mindful of the trigger warnings, but it is so worth the read! 

I often have a hard time immersing myself in character-led stories, but this was an exception. Sara and Emelie are both so realistically flawed and so so lovable. I loved following their journeys, and I was deeply inspired by their willingness and determination to make a life for themselves, to thrive. 

The romance between them was also wonderful, but, considering the time frame of the story and the detail with which their separate traumas and personal growth were explored, it felt somewhat rushed, and it didn’t stand out to me as the strongest part of the story. 

All in all, I adored this book, so whether you’re looking for a brilliant work of literary fiction, something to add to your pride (or all year) TBR, or something to break your heart and put it back together again, I highly recommend this! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Child death

adrose18's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.5

Lord these poor women - so many awful adults and so much unresolved trauma. I listened to the audio book and read pieces of it in hard copy too. There are parts of it that are very lyrical and lovely but also pieces that were just very frustrating. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Grief

caitlynva's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

A wonderful book where two women’s separate stories come together as one over a shared location. Each comes with their own struggles and complex issues that leads you to never take a “side” throughout the book. Beautifully written.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

lindsayerin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence

indydc's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Child death, Drug use, Addiction, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Minor: Cancer