Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Isaac and the Egg

My mum recommended me this book, genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've read. Through most of it I found myself laughing or absolutely sobbing, it was one of the most honest depictions of depression and dissociation I've read, and was a really easy book to read and get absorbed in.

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emmaura's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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lucyatoz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I cannot write a review to this debut novel by a talent storyteller apart from to say that it is a unique, quirky, funny and tender story and like nothing I have ever read before. It made me laugh and cry and is quite wonderful.

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imacocoageek's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.5

This is a beautiful book about grief, love, and an egg-shaped alien. It follows a man who has lost everything, and we follow his depressing journey with a lost egg-shaped alien... and how they saved each other. Still consider this book even if aliens aren't your thing. This isn't fantasy; he's a cute alien anyways. It is beautifully written and made me laugh, tear up, and smile. As well, the cover is gorgeous. Great debut novel!

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what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A new, young widow (the titular Isaac) grieving the sudden death of his wife Mary, is provided help and support when he needs it most. I can't expand upon that without giving away spoilers, but there comes a point, a couple of points more accurately, when realisation hits and the premise becomes apparent.

I listened to this on Audible, enjoyed Johnny Flynn's narration, which worked with both the slow and sombre and the fast and humourous, elements of the plot. I do think actors often make the best audio book narrators.

I found the early part, perhaps a third, slow and confusing, but the implausible elements are worth sticking with, because they follow Isaac's raw and heartbreaking grief. Once I became aware of how and why the Egg creature became Isaac's sidekick, this lifted the tale immeasurably. From then onwards I was invested in Isaac's journey.

This is a quirky, intimate and poignant debut novel, that creatively examines grief, love and hope.

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madamelacy's review

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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

3.75

This story is variously heart wrenching and gently funny as it follows the main character’s journey through grief, helped by the presence of Egg. For much of the book it’s unclear what Egg is, but whatever he is he’s an endearing character. I thought Egg’s attempts at making baked beans on toast were hilarious.

I really enjoyed the story overall, although I did find the plot predictable.

I loved the playfulness of the formatting and font within the book, especially the word search with the stages of grief and the cascade of questions.

I would suggest looking at trigger warnings though because it’s potentially more harrowing than it would first appear.

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imogil's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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tysuckz's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!!!

Absolutely beautiful. In my top 5 of books I have ever read.

I didn't think I was going to cry until the end, and I just lost it. So heartbreaking but wholesome?? I can't even explain all the emotions this book conjures up, honestly.

I love the different ways that Palmer explored rhe presentation, I mean integrating the wordsearch with the 5 stages of grief in it was an amazing addition, especially since I don't think many people would've taken the time to recognise that they are all in there.

I love Egg. He's wonderfully funny, so sweet and so cute. I love the impact he had on Isaacs life, despite the reality of him, it didn't really matter. I'd say it's effectively a given than Egg didn't exist, and wasn't real but the idea of him being there like Nanny McPhee (lol) was wonderful. When you need me but do not want me I must stay, but when you want me but no longer need me, I must go!! That's Egg! Had me hysterical at the end.

Devastating and uplifting and heartbreaking and every other emotion you could ever feel.

Would like to read this from another perspective that isn't Isaac. Like how would it seem from the perspective of simply observing Isaac and his life?

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