Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

4 reviews

purplepenning's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Oof. I'm going to need a beat to process this one. My initial response is: 👏👏👏 I'm so glad this book exists and I can see how it might work especially well for teenagers. But it's doing just a few too many things at once for my tastes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Bullying, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Racial slurs

tangleroot_eli's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

A magical realism adventure that's also an allegory for depression. A few notes don't resonate with me, but overall, what a symphony.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Blood, Death, and Self harm

Minor: Bullying

Moderate: Mind control

aformeracceleratedreader's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

I loved this just as much if not more than Me (Moth). I struggle with my mental health and felt this book so deeply, especially towards the end where I kept crying as I read. I needed this even with the author's note at the front stating that it could be triggering to the reader. Please read content/trigger warnings if you are someone who is/or has struggled with mental health. This can be a difficult and emotional read. 
The cover is stunning, the writing is beautiful, and I will definitely look out for whatever the author publishes next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Blood, Bullying, Child death, and Gaslighting

ahaines's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

Great book! But I strongly suggest you read it with your eyes (ebook or physical copy) rather than listening on audio. There are a lot of formatting things (e.g., lists) that don't translate well to audio. Very short and easy to get through, but worth the read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting