2.87k reviews for:

We All Want Impossible Things

Catherine Newman

4.09 AVERAGE

nicola_june's review against another edition

3.5

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

msmoodyreader's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

eandrer's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

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Subject matter too much right now 

megan_watson0831's review against another edition

3.75

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

emoremilyoremilia's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny inspiring 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

cassieonrepeat's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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Catherine Newman, you absolute gem. This exploration into death, grief, love, friendship, is so beautiful. Only read if you’re ready to cry. 

_olivia26_'s review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

owlnation99's review against another edition

2.5

challenging emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rae607's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

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"We All Want Impossible Things" centers on longtime friends Edi and Ash. Edi, a documentary filmmaker with a young child and a sweet husband, is dying of ovarian cancer. Ash, a food writer and surprisingly horny mother of two teens, serves as Edi's key advocate as she enters hospice care. Novelist Catherine Newman, author of the excellent 2024 book "Sandwich," distills a lot of truths about friendship, love, grief, parenthood, food and more in this compact and excellent earlier work. If you've lost someone close to you, you will recognize the emotional highs and lows here: Even in deepest grief, it's not possible to be weeping at every moment. There's laughter and sweetness along the way, too. Highly recommended. 

dawnparker's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated