Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

11 reviews

anjh's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

5.0

honestly this book was so easy to read and so comforting, especially with being able to relate to strongly to Steffi with shyness and anxiety. 

i really liked the d/Deaf representation in this book especially with the d/Deaf x SM relationship and how this encouraged the discussion around how much we really need to use verbal communication and how other modes of communication can be just as meaningful if not more, including BSL. 

a lot of the plot points in this book were quite predictable which i guess was a kind of downside but honestly i would still give it 5 stars, it was so unique in its representation of differences and so beautiful. 

i don’t normally like romance books but something about the romance in this one was just different and unique and i really did like it. the 🌶️ scenes tho not so much lol

would def recommend to anyone who enjoys YA with disability rep and a touch of romance


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

zombiezami's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

olivia_v's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

I loved all the characters and the different dynamics. 
I think it was a good representation of anxiety and how it can manifest for some people. 
I enjoyed the writing styles, and the sign language was really well incorporated (especially liked the chapter numbers having the BSL instructions above them). 
Steffi’s mum did wind me up sometimes as I felt she was quite oppressive and discouraging of Steffi. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

courtnoodles's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

2.0

2.5

Steffi and Rhys were cute, but other than that, nothing happened.

Also Tem sucks.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

janneke2302's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed the majority of this book. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did I thought it was great. I think this book is such amazing representation of not only anxiety but how it feels to have a chronic illness that isn't immediately visible to the world and that at times feels like it's all in your head. So while I don't have anxiety to the extent Steffi does  I still felt incredibly seen by this book. There were definitely some parts that hit a bit too close to home, especially the conversations and fears around Steffi attending university, but I'm very glad I read it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

quinn22's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

booksarefriends_notfood's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

legalplanner's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

This was a lovely book that had me going from start to finish. When we first meet our main characters we find that they both have differences from their classmates that make them stand out far more than they wished, but also makes their parents worried a lot more than they should. 

Steffi was interesting to get to know because she is considered a "selective mute" which irritates her mother more often than not. When she meets Rhys a new student who happens to be deaf she finds  that talking to him is easy. 

The parental struggles of parents know best and the child trying to spread their wings was a major plot point here. This was sometimes hard to read because Steffi's mom and dad were complete opposites when it came to handling her future. When Steffi is worried she's failed at everything her parents finally come through for her and that was a relationship growth I wasn't looking out for. Her relationship with Rhys is sometimes frustrating and infuriating, but when you remember they are 16 you remember your first relationship and the angst and the lack of communication. Their relationship is less irritating angst and more trying to figure out how to be with other people.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

foreverinastory's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

Read as the August #WickAndJaneBookClub pick on Instagram, the theme was d/Deaf/Hard of Hearing MC.

Rep: female MC with anxiety and selective mutism, deaf male love interest (possibly BIPOC, described as brown skin), MC's female best friend is unspecified BIPOC and possibly a refugee (best guess at ethnicity is Somalian based on last name). Several side character are deaf and use sign language, Syrian male side character.

CWs: Ableism, alcohol consumption (some underage), gaslighting, grief, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks/disorders, bullying, child death, car accident, infidelity, sexual content, racism. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings