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whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
daley_mckdonald's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death and Gun violence
crieraylas's review against another edition
- 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
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
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism and Dementia
leah08855's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
warlockdorian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
yelena_mila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
amaramorgenstern's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Grief, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Dementia
oliviastewart716's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Blood
Minor: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
thatbookbitch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
2.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Medical content, Racism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Dementia and Blood