Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow

7 reviews

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

This book was beautiful. I haven't read one of Kathleen's books before but now I need to read the rest. It was incredibly sad, right from the first page and the ending wasn't particularly happy but it was hopeful. This book really highlights the importance of judge not, lest we too be judged. These characters are each going through their own tragedies and just trying to keep their heads above water and survive. It brings home the importance of trying to look outside your own world for a bit and see that others are hurting too. You may not be able to fix what is happening in your own life but that doesn't mean you need to bury your head in the sand and not try to help those around you that you can help. Unfortunately, I don't think Emory really internalised this concept by the end as during this book, she was obviously focusing on her brother and her own family tragedies. But, these wonderful, imperfect people surround her through this book but I don't think she ever really asks them how they are, they occasionally offer up something about their lives but Emory never checks in or asks them how they're doing. She was going through a lot and I know how you can get lost in your own world so much so that everything around you becomes an afterthought, but, hopefully, those things will come with growth and maturity.

A specific example that comes to mind is the alluding towards Liza being sexually assaulted, maybe Emory never made the connections but it's obvious her trauma goes deeper than her parents leaving, and Emory never bothers to ask and we never really find out. I'm not upset about that though because this book was focused on Emory and Joey.

I liked that Kathleen chose to write this story from the perspective of Emory instead of Joey, it was very real. I connected with some of Emory's experiences and feelings, and it is important to hear how someone's mental health struggles and addiction can affect those around us. We don't delve too deeply into the other characters, even Joey, we hear bits and pieces but we never really get to understand him on a deeper level and I guess that is quite a good reflection on the world. You may know pieces of a person, but everyone has their own stories and all we can do is try to walk through this world with a little bit more grace and compassion in our hearts and actions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Mental illness, Child death, Addiction, and Bullying

Moderate: Grief, Sexism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cancer, and Sexual assault

estrellasstars's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was so insanely accurate to addiction, on any side. I've been in both Emory and Joey's shoes, and this book spoke to me in a way I never expected. It took a minute for me to get used to the writing style of Glasgow, but god she depicted everything I've gone through so well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Minor: Rape, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Emory's relationship with a character named Gage Galt, is purely sexual even though Emory doesn't want it to be. Emory says everything was consensual but it was really clearly more of emotional manipulation.

nadia_luq's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Car accident, Death, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Drug use

Moderate: Child abuse and Cancer

kellyallenpoe's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual harassment

anspringel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

I read Glasgow’s first book “Girl in pieces” back when I was 16. The subject triggered me but I couldnt put it down. 
Now 7 years later I started this one wondering maybe I was fascinated by the first book way too much since I had different standards.
I was wrong. It took me a day to finish this one. The writing style is beautiful and makes you see from the eyes of the main character and feel her every emotion.
I think it must be a hard task to keep the reader hooked when you’re writing about such a challenging subject and miss. Glasgow did pretty well. 
One thing that I love both about You’d be home now and Girl in pieces, is that the ending is not like a fairy tail. It’s realistic. It’s not necessary sad but it’s not hero-ish either. The characters make mistakes, the mistakes you think that are gonna mess them up even more and it happens but you’ll learn it’s ok. I suggest this to anyone who feels like they’re facing a deadend. There are triggers and tears, even with that, I felt I’d be fine to panic a little.
Definitely a favorite!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Grief, and Bullying

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Medical content, and Medical trauma

hue's review against another edition

dark sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

prachidayal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

3.0

• Easy read (4 - 6 hours)
• There was a lot of ‘white woman rainbow and sunshine’ bullshit. The whole movement thing was reminiscent of Moxie. The author, in both books, seems detached from the reality of teenagers. This stuff never happens. In both books, I hated the inclusion of social media because it was so poorly executed. The voices of teenagers written by Glasgow are so unrealistic, it makes me cringe. Also, Em having no knowledge of nudes and sexting made no sense. Lastly, the whole school bullying stuff was overdone and dramatic.
• I liked this book better than “How to Make Friends With the Dark.” The writing felt more mature, though I still found myself confused about the characters’ ages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, and Drug abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual harassment