Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

49 reviews

heyitsamandarae's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abortion

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Infidelity and Infertility

pasadenaellie's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

is this a “a surreal journey through our late-capitalist hellscape and 
 a brilliantly incisive look at the absurdities of modern life,” or is it just what it’s like to live in san francisco?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kaicedcoffee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. This book shook me up, man. Maybe it was just because so much of the story was close to home for me, but I was an emotional wreck reading this. Sobbed two different times, and I'm not one who cries over books....ever! Grabbed me by the throat and didn't get go until it was over.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kellyung's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Abortion, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

kelsiecrough's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Spoilers Ahead....
Here are the things that I liked:

• the use of a unique form, with the definitions and examples being flashbacks
• the symbolism of the black hole was interesting
• I was invested in the main character and wanted her to succeed 
• The. subtle tying in of things that are seemingly disconnected
• Every once in a while there was a paragraph that so crisp it had me completely immersed
• the audiobook was pretty good too

Here are the things that I didn't like:

• Everything that could possibly go wrong for the character went wrong. Anything that was good was so short-lived that it was very predictable that some thing would happen that would upset the main character or make her life more difficult. While I believe not making it easy for your character is important, making everything that could go wrong go wrong made the plot super predictable and lowered the stakes for the reader.
• I really don't know how to feel about the black hole. On one hand, it was an interesting device to describe the complexity of generational trauma and depression. On the other hand, I wish it was used and explored just a little bit more throughout the book. I also think the fact that everything was going wrong for her plot-wise really softened the symbolism of her collapse mirrored by the black hole. 
• Every few paragraphs there was a sentence or two that spelled things out for the reader that I personally would've deleted in revisions. 
• Ending was ok, like I stated before, a little predictable. All the subtle tie-ins from throughout the book was nice, but based on the amount of time that was spent describing those things in the beginning, I would think their tie-in would be more pronounced than it was in its current list-like form.
• Honestly, I felt like this could have been a set of short stories or a novella instead of a novel.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Drug abuse, Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic

virgcole398's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.75

If you’re struggling with your mental health or healing from narcissistic abuse, please don’t read this book. It just hit too close to home…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Suicide, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Police brutality, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

josefina_na's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

This was one of the most depressing books I ever read. Please make sure to be in the right mood before diving into this book.

candofett's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Addiction, and Infertility

annagerman's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

An exploration of life under late capitalism. A quintessentially millennial novel, about mental health, dating and love, friendship and familial ties, social and financial inequality, disillusionment from the "dream job", and corporate greed.
This story manages to explore so many different aspects and difficulties of modern life without being shallow, in a nuanced sensitive way.
I loved the writing, it was wry and sharp yet poignant. The use of magical realism was done just right,  reflecting the complexities of the MC's inner-monologue. The structure of the chapters was also interesting.
I really felt for Cassie. Her views were definitely warped by her mental state, but I still found myself relating to many of her observations. The descriptions of depression and anxiety, and even suicidal indentations, were done particularly well. They are complex and subtle, yet emotionally charged and unsettling.

Verdict - 4.5\5 black holes.
A compelling, complex and absorbing read, tackling major issues, with a touch of magical realism and dark humor. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Abortion, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Medical content and Suicide

tajosima's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Chapter 21: I knew I had to buy this book.
The way I feel about this book is the way I felt about The Bell Jar when I read it when I was younger. Now I’m older and I have Ripe to describe how i feel

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, Excrement, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Blood, Abortion, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infertility, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racism