Reviews with content warning for Medical content - The Falling in Love Montage

Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

20 reviews

pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition

emotional sad tense 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

1.5

I actually loved this first 98% of this book . . . but then that ending abosolutely destroyed it for me. And no, I'm not talking about

Ruby and Saoirse breaking up, we knew that from the beginning,

and no I don't mean that this book is just as much about dementia, instead of being a cute rom-com that it is marketed as.

Saoirse's feelings were *chef's kiss.* I could see many students (former high school teacher here), responding to major life changes the way she does. Especially if that's what your parent models.

Also, Oliver, sweet baby child. Love him, he deserves the world.

Now be warned for an absolute rant about the Dad/Beth and

Baby

storyline below. Feel free to skip if you didn't have a strong (or visceral, as is my case) reaction towards it.

I 100% detested the absolute piece of turd that her father is. Now, a part of this could just be my effed up issues from my own childhood with my parents but,

you refuse to talk about anything serious with your child, you start dating someone, propose, get married, move and have another child with another woman less than one year after your "wife" (ex-wife) moves out. All of which, done WITHOUT discussing this with (or hell even considering) your daughter who you know is absolutely drowning in all of the major changes going on in her life in regards to her mother, your divorce, AND the possibility that she could suffer from the same disease that is taking her mother away from her . . .

And for the most part, I was okay with it, I thought it was pretty realistic, until you just bombshelled the

pregnancy in the last two chapters. And again, it could be due to my issues, but I firmly believe having a child is soley up to the decision of the person carrying said child, but the consequences (both positive and negative) are felt by multiople people. And when it comes to having another child, the (holistic) wellbeing of your LIVING child should be a factor in your decision as to what you do. Having a child is not a decision about you and your desire to have children. If Saoirse regressed in her growth, I could not blame her, because, putting myself in her shoes, it would be completely understandable for her to feel like she was bing replaced. As what's been modeled for her is that we only sacrifice for someone we love, when it's beneficial towards you, and once it's not, we just pretend it's not there.

I'm not trying to say that her father's life should be put on hold or his life choices should be determined only by what Saoirse wants, but for god's sake, think about her for once and put her first at least once. She is your child, she should come first before yourself at all times. Or at the least, just think how she would feel or how your decisions would impact her. That's what you sign up for when you decide to have a child. End of rant.

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The Falling in Love Montage is another winner from Ciara Smyth.

It has sharp (at times razor-sharp) writing, believable character development, snarky dialogue, and nicely paced. It also provides real insight into

what life is like for the child of a parent with early onset dementia

, a topic which I knew very little about, and which is

pretty devastating to read about

.

The best character development award goes to our MC, Saoirse (pronounced Seer-sha, as she makes clear right at the beginning). Her distinctly sarcastic narrative voice engages you immediately, even as you think, this girl has issues (well, that's what I thought, anyway).

The plot is well-paced, and it is in some ways I could see where it was going,

, particularly with the romance plot

, but it was told so beautifully that I didn't mind the journey getting there.

I also really appreciated how everything

wasn't neatly wrapped up at the end, because that felt more realistic

.

Overall, this was a really well-written, feel-good tale with a knockout MC.

Content Warnings

whosgina's review

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.25

Content Warnings

genny's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

I really liked how Saoirse's conflicted feelings about her parents were explored, and how they color her view of love. Very realistic portrayal of a teenager and I actually laughed out loud

(I just about died when the audiobook narrator kept repeating "Satan's shrivelled left nut" 😭)

. No homophobia here; the characters' problems aren't due to their sexual orientations. It was nice to see young characters so confident in their identities. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, too!

I expected a more traditional happy-ever-after, but what we got was perfectly in line with the book's overarching theme. I'm impressed that the author stuck by her guns.

I didn't become emotionally invested in the romance, which is why I'm not giving this 5 stars, but IMO it's a near-perfect coming-of-age story that's well worth the time. Oliver ended up as my favorite character.

Content Warnings

caseythereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

4.5

- Oh my goodness, I loved THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE. This book is YA at its best: silly and sweet, but also tackling tough life events and complicated relationships.
- Saoirse is prickly and angry, and the book does a good job of showing us how her feelings can be valid, but also a bit overblown where she doesn’t have the full context.
- I also loved how this book was virtually free of homophobia. Maybe a brief mention, but not a central part of the plot at all.

Content Warnings

dwoht's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

i started reading this book with a lot of expectations in mind mainly because of the reviews that i've read before reading it. it wasn't the perfect "lesbian romcom" book that i expected. it's actually so much more. it's complex. it tackled friendship, family, heartbreak, loving again, etc. but what really broke my heart is the family one and i didn't expected that knowing that this book is advertised to me as a romcom. i may have cried a little bit with some scenes and i was even annoyed with the decisions of some characters, but that's how a book is. it's a bit heavy and emotional if you're kinda sensitive about family issues but it has its fun moments too. i also loved how oliver and saoirse's friendship developed! it was so cute.

the ending is a bit disappointing BUT i think it's realistic even tho i love them together 💔

Content Warnings

thelowlysloth's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

5.0

Content Warnings

lisa_m's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I was hoping for a cute sapphic romance. It kind of was that but also not at all. This book is sad - I cried multiple times and there is a lot of things to unpack.

Let me start of by listing what I didn't like about this book:
- the main character was kind of annoying at times. Also I got really mad at her for the way she treated other people and argumented herself out of every wrong doing.
- the book was really sad and depressing at times (I cried a few times throughout the book)

- it doesn't have a happy ending

I really liked Oliver and his dynamic with Saoirse. They had that teasing brother and sister "funny enemies" thing going on which I really like.

I also liked Beth. I get why Saoirse didn't like her but I think she is actually pretty great. I did not however like her father. I get that he's trying his best but I would be so so mad at him for everything he has done.

The ending was fine I guess. I don't have super strong feelings for this book I have to say. I thought it was okay but I doubt it will stick in my mind for long.
I think I'm just kinda disappointed because I wanted to like this book so bad and I also really thought I would..

Content Warnings

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

It was hard to like Saoirse, which might have been the point bit still made the book hard to get through. She was needlessly unkind to Ruby and Oliver throughout, but they kept sticking with her.

I wasn't a fan of the ending either.

She just forgives all these people who hurt her so badly without them ever changing or really atoning for what they did? Her dad abandoned her mom to marry someone else, but that's suddenly okay. She makes up with Izzy and Hannah, despite this hurt and betrayal she's obsessed with for the whole book. It didn't feel like growth so much as changing established character traits suddenly.

Content Warnings

matheo's review

Go to review page

emotional funny

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

4.5

Content Warnings

More...