Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

136 reviews

ame_why's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Animal death, Child death, and Classism

amypotiphar's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Physical abuse and Alcoholism

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Devastating. Honestly, I don't know if I can put into words the feelings this book stirred up within me.
I suppose I should start by saying that I don't read sad books. Like, ever. And when I do, it is by accident and begrudgingly. And NEVER in the "hurt-no-comfort" category. Because I don't like being sad on purpose. Period.
However, a friend of mine gifted me this book when she moved, and after all the hype surrounding it when it came out, and of course the intriguing premise, I knew I was going to have to just power through and give it a chance.
Even though I knew it would be devastating.
And even when I reached the halfway mark and guessed at the truth hidden underneath the lies -- at which point, I knew for certain that I was going to be, you guessed it: devastated -- I wanted to finish it. To feel it and live it with Cady.
Oh, my poor, sweet Cady. How I wish I could just wrap you up in the biggest of hugs.

All in all, this is an excellent book. Devastating, yes. But exquisitely told. Grief is explored in every aspect. And as much as we would all rather avoid this kind of heartache, it comes for each of us. And this book does an amazing job of taking the reader through the process of pain, acceptance, healing, denial, and hope that surfaces even as the wounds turn to scars and the phantom pains set in. I can't say that I loved this book, because it's still so fresh and raw and, well, painful. But I needed it. My soul needed it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Classism, Death, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

s1ck4n's review

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Death, Mental illness, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug use

shaleen64's review

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Without the final chapter I would rate this book a 2 star. However, the ending delivers an unexpected plot twist and does tie the rest of the plot line together well. However, there are many smaller tropes throughout the book that are underdeveloped and important issues brushed over. It’s not a book I would recommend but at least it’s only short!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism, Animal death, and Child death

Minor: Dementia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

reemoony's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

the main premise of this book is that the ending is supposed to be this huge, unexpected thing. i went into this thinking that no plot twist could ever catch me off guard. this one did. as i was reading and learning little things, i kept thinking. is this it? is this the huge twist ive been waiting for? if so, shitty book. but it hits you in the face, and i love this book so much for that. genuinely, if anyone asks you how it ends, just lie.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Addiction

crieraylas's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Grief, Racism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Murder

Minor: Misogyny, Blood, Infidelity, and Rape

sycamore22's review

dark mysterious 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

4.0

Holy shit. Truly felt like I was just as confused as Cadence about everything until the mystery unfolded. Binged the entire audiobook in one sitting. This is a riveting, emotional story. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Alcoholism

Minor: Dementia, Racism, and Animal death

A grandmother dies, some family dogs die, and

some young people die

. The grandfather gets dementia. Parents drink to cope with loss of the grandmother (and other family matters). The grandfather with dementia commits several racist microaggressions towards Gat.

rene_reads02's review

challenging dark emotional lighthearted tense 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

4.25

Plot twist of the century. I really didn’t see it coming a hundred miles away. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Child death, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Racism

stripy_gloves's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.0

Really short chapter 87 for only a  225 page book. It was badly written but had a good plot twist at the end 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Dysphoria, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use