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dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although All's Well is classified as horror, similar to Bunny, but it could be more appropriately categorized under magical realism (or perhaps surrealism), just like Bunny.
This book confirmed my suspicion that Mona Awad will be an auto-buy author for me. Awad has indeed made it to my list of favorite authors because I have an affinity for the peculiar.
Articulating my thoughts on Awad's books is always a challenge, despite the excellence of her prose and storytelling. Rating All's Well was difficult as I found the ending slightly underwhelming. I sought more rage and a more unhinged narrative.
While I rate Bunny higher (I wish I could read that book for the first time again), All's Well is still a good read. It's just so frustrating for me to still not know what Miranda's, the main character of All's Well, mental health issue is, unlike in Bunny when it was clearly schizophrenia. However, maybe I'm overanalyzing and All's Well is merely about the dismissal of women's pain coupled with misogyny, even from women themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content
dark
emotional
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“All’s Well” by Mona Awad is an eerie, deeply unsettling novel (in the best way possible). Narrated by theatre professor Miranda Fitch, we experience her descent into madness and witness how she becomes increasingly frantic as unexplainable events unfold. Miranda isn’t a lovable character by any means, but she is certainly compelling. This book is perfect for theatre nerds, especially those with a soft spot for Shakespeare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really liked this book for the first half but i think the ending was too confusing to keep up with. i know the confusion was probably intentional, but it was hard to finish in my opinion. i love the complex feelings i got about miranda, as i really empathized with her in the beginning half and was rooting for her, but you progressively see her become morally grey. i think this was also a wonderful depiction of what living with chronic pain is like, so anyone who has chronic pain disorders should consider reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are sexual elements to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I first read Bunny, I Ioved the prose but didn’t feel a strong connection to the message of the story. It was a crazy read though, so when I saw Mona Awad had another book All’s Well, I was excited to give it a try. This one I truly cannot praise enough. As someone who suffers from chronic conditions, I felt so seen by Miranda’s character. I really believe the backdrop of this story got the message across beautifully. It was so raw while also having mysterious magical elements and, true to Awad, all the characters were so unique and distinct which instantly makes them feel so alive from Page 1. I truly think everyone can gain perspective from this book; undoubtedly, it’s a must read.
It is a bit slow moving in the beginning and then suddenly really picks it up. If you can get through the beginning, it’s worth it.
It is a bit slow moving in the beginning and then suddenly really picks it up. If you can get through the beginning, it’s worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredibly stressful, I'm obsessed. I think people who didn't quite click with Bunny should give this one a shot - the way that All's Well and Macbeth as stories were paralleled in the story, how Miranda was using those around her as set dressing for reclaiming the life before her injury, was amazing. I adore Mona Awad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Medical trauma
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
Awad really went there with this one. I have literally never read a book like this one in the best way possible.
Her stream-of-consciousness first-person writing is impeccable and pulls you through Miranda's story wonderfully. You go from pitying her to hating her to questioning her to fearing her to being scared for her, and through all of it you're left wondering what in the world could happen next. Awad does an incredible job of weaving Shakespearean nods throughout the characters and the plot seamlessly and it was really fascinating to see how she used that in her craft.
This also does a wonderful job of highlighting what it is to live with chronic pain with the need to be a "good patient" and how anger and fear can get involved. All in all, I'd call this a perfect book club pick or definitely one to add to your list if you like a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.
Her stream-of-consciousness first-person writing is impeccable and pulls you through Miranda's story wonderfully. You go from pitying her to hating her to questioning her to fearing her to being scared for her, and through all of it you're left wondering what in the world could happen next. Awad does an incredible job of weaving Shakespearean nods throughout the characters and the plot seamlessly and it was really fascinating to see how she used that in her craft.
This also does a wonderful job of highlighting what it is to live with chronic pain with the need to be a "good patient" and how anger and fear can get involved. All in all, I'd call this a perfect book club pick or definitely one to add to your list if you like a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction