Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Connexion immédiate by Mary H.K. Choi

73 reviews

lisa_m's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful tense 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this book. I thought I was going to give it 5 stars and I probably would have if it had been a few chapters longer. I did not like the ending.

They didn't even speak their feelings, it was just implied. And for the whole book revolving about those too figuring out their lifes and emotions it's quite frustrating to not actually do that with their feelings towards each other.

But other than that I thought the book was really good. I maybe should have read some trigger warnings first because I was quite shocked when the rape scene happened. I did not expect it at all. It wasn't exploitative but in enough detail to make me uncomfortable.

There are definitely some darker themes and important topics but I think they were handled in a great way.

I really enjoyed that Penny wrote a story that we also got to read. I thought it was really good and interesting and I always like 'books' in books and that type of thing.

I might reread this and give it 5 stars in a few years. Who knows.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Addiction, Classism, Deportation, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

optionalobjectives's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

There are some good qualities here in occasional flashes of the Texas setting, and the dialog could be worse. I do think that Choi does well in capturing some youthful naiveté in just about every character in the book. But the story beats are so regular as to be distracting, big issues are tossed in too lightly for purposes of plot or character development without being pursued, and ultimately, the scenes feel under-described rather than intimate. At least it's a breezy read - nothing challenging here, just a window into the lives of a college-age cast.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Child death and Racism

hanaya's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Racism

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Drug use and Racism

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

TW: mentions of HP, on-page panic attack, use of the word "spazz" to describe unattractive behaviour, alcoholism, racism, pregnancy scare, rape, jokes about the use of swastikas and images of Juggalos as decor, smoking, underage drinking, drug use (off-page, weed overdose), toxic relationship

kat_andherbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

cutest thing I've read in a while. and the mutual pining ohmygosh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Eating disorder

whatcassiedid's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.0

I expected this to be a light romance and it ended up being a lot darker and heavier but I liked it! Could have used more Jude, Mallory, and Andy tbh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse

laur312's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Rape

writtenwithoutanending's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual assault

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Overall not a bad book but not one I'd necessarily recommend. The characters were a bit frustrating for almost the whole book, but I liked the ending. I could relate to Penny on a few things. Jude was my favorite character throughout.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Racism, Rape, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

caidyn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-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

4.0

I don't know how Choi does it, but she writes books that have such a beautiful tone to them. Alternately funny and heartbreaking, yet aching with hope throughout. Reading this second book has cemented me as a fan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault