Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

All's Well by Mona Awad

116 reviews

bubblybelle's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 being that i’m currently in the middle of a flare up, i truly could not have read this at a more perfect time. this book and miranda’s complexity hit so close to home in a way i’ve never been able to put to words. 

nearly perfect, but being a theatre technician, there were some technical aspects (specifically with the set design) that just aren’t how things work (and not in a magical realism way). a super nit picky critique from my super niche job. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting

smolfrog's review against another edition

4.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Fucking insane. A worthy follow-up to Bunny. Witches, madness, chronic pain, & Shakespeare. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Death, Infertility, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury

jen_nej's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark funny mysterious tense

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

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This book felt like a fever dream. It would make an excellent A24 movie where everything is tense and strange, but beautifully shot. The writing paints such a clear picture!

I read that the chronic pain descriptions came from the author’s personal experience after a surgery. It feels very visceral and was almost too much as someone who’s been through PT for a minor injury. I would be cautious with this book if you’ve had a major experience with pain/pain management. Overall, I really enjoyed the story (even with the ambiguous ending) and its reflection on the western healthcare system as it relates to women’s pain. If you’re a reader who likes a firm ending, skip this one!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma

jettiphoned's review against another edition

4.5

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

cannibalgender's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional mysterious

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

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I read this whole thing while bedridden from extreme pain due to endometriosis and oh my g-d did it make the experience that much more intense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma

herbodyslikeamodernart's review against another edition

4.0

dark funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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didn’t like the ending because it didn’t fit with the dark tone of the rest of the book, but the author has a lot of poignant things to say about chronic pain and medical sexism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol

Moderate: Death

Minor: Car accident

alicemorrison1029's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Absolutely obsessed with everything Mona does. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts

clarethomsen's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug use, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

glassflowrr's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-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: Complicated

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This one was not quite as punchy and feverish as Awad's other novels, but I still enjoyed it. Definitely recommend starting here if you aren't sure you'll like her more dreamlike and feverish stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail

chris_reads's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Dysphoria

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma

Minor: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Medical content, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail