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alittlebitofjessica's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
I really liked the start of this book and managed to get through it fairly quickly, however felt that the ending was a bit flat and drawn out.
Some nice moments though and difficult topics to address, which I felt was done well and you felt for the characters involved - I’d read another book by this author for sure.
Some nice moments though and difficult topics to address, which I felt was done well and you felt for the characters involved - I’d read another book by this author for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
blaesgreen's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In the vein of Eleanor Oliphant and Bernadette, Grace Adams is a touching & sometimes hilarious portrait of a woman on the brink of collapse who pushes back. The story takes place over one day with many flashbacks that really flesh out the characters. I loved how this book used perimenopause in juxtaposition with puberty - ow life in the middle of our lives breaks us open—and apart—and then open again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Eating disorder
ashleygsiler's review
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Sexual assault
kellyloubishop's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
charnewb's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder
elsmithies's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
So many (too many?) themes crammed into this fast-paced, easy to read book. Love, loss and perimenopause are all covered in this book. The book was more depressing than I'd expected and the ending was too neat and quick for me personally, but definitely a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
lindsaylhunter's review
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
The last hundred pages of this book really sealed the deal for me that this is a lovely, emotionally-charged novel. Some of the dialogue does not read well and you can absolutely tell that the teenage dialogue has been written by someone approaching middle age, but still a nice book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Police brutality
bookmarkonthewall's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Child death
readwithsabs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
2.5
Sadly this one was not for me. It was a slow long drawn out read. I had committed to 50% read before I knew I was not going to love it. I think the main reason it didn't work for me is because the author simply tried to tackle far too many sensitive themes ans in my opinion not in any great detail, therefore did not do any of them well. It was incredibly melodramatic with an unlikeable protagonist in Grace Adams and her teenage daughter Lotte. Told in present day with flashbacks to storytell how the events of Grace's past have effected her and bringing it around to her current situation.
I guess the author was trying to explore the importance of womanhood and all the nuances around being a strong woman.
I guess the author was trying to explore the importance of womanhood and all the nuances around being a strong woman.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Child death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
"Grace realizes she can't trust her own emotions anymore. She can't trust herself. It's impossible to tell where the perimenopause stops and she begins, and she's asking herself who she would be if it wasn't for these chemical enemies raging through her body, hijacking her mind, who she would he if her self had not come apart from her. She imagines she'd be nailing life, sailing through it serenely. Coping at least."
This book spoke to me, not initially admittedly, because it took me a while to invest in Grace, her husband Ben and teenage daughter Lotte, but invest I did. Told from perimenopausal and vulnerable, Grace's perspective over one day, she is determined to take a birthday cake to Lotte's party at Ben's house; it's a dramatic journey, walking across London in a heatwave to avoid a traffic jam, interspersed with Grace's reflections on her relationships with Ben and Lotte. I had questions, including: Who is Lotte's boyfriend? Why did Grace and Ben break up? Why is Grace struggling so?
All is answered and there are some major trigger warnings. You may cry when you learn all she has to deal with, which I particularly related to, being a similar age to Grace and having been dealt some challenging blows during my life. Grace, like me, carries on for herself and for those she loves. Grace is resilient, kind and absolutely 'amazing', I would want her as my friend. Astute, focused and affectionate, this is a poignant tale of a woman on the edge, a debut novel about family drama, loss and hope.
This book spoke to me, not initially admittedly, because it took me a while to invest in Grace, her husband Ben and teenage daughter Lotte, but invest I did. Told from perimenopausal and vulnerable, Grace's perspective over one day, she is determined to take a birthday cake to Lotte's party at Ben's house; it's a dramatic journey, walking across London in a heatwave to avoid a traffic jam, interspersed with Grace's reflections on her relationships with Ben and Lotte. I had questions, including: Who is Lotte's boyfriend? Why did Grace and Ben break up? Why is Grace struggling so?
All is answered and there are some major trigger warnings. You may cry when you learn all she has to deal with, which I particularly related to, being a similar age to Grace and having been dealt some challenging blows during my life. Grace, like me, carries on for herself and for those she loves. Grace is resilient, kind and absolutely 'amazing', I would want her as my friend. Astute, focused and affectionate, this is a poignant tale of a woman on the edge, a debut novel about family drama, loss and hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
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