Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

8 reviews

theonlybaillie's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Infidelity, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy

mheiling's review

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Infidelity

maggies's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-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

2.0

This one is difficult to review. It seemed marketed as a cozy mystery, but the mystery was so cozy it barely qualified in my opinion—most books have a similar level of puzzlement/secrecy involved and don't get the mystery genre. It was all decidedly fine. The plot and pacing varied widely throughout, which felt a bit like whiplash to me as a reader. The central conflict was resolved neither satisfactorily nor poorly; it just kind of petered out and then the book was suddenly over. The characters weren't horrible as a rule, but they also weren't endearing by any stretch. Also, my perennial reaction: they all need to go to therapy.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Cancer, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Mental illness

bexi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

laheath's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

I almost didn't read this after being disappointed by so many books about libraries, bookstores, and booklovers. This one had so much depth, with a combination of family secrets, personal growth in the main character, mystery, and reconciliation. With a range of interesting characters, I found myself wanting to know more about the backstories for the minor characters and hoping for a continuation of the stories for Martha, Owen, Zelda, and Siegfried. I felt like they were just getting started and I wasn't ready for it to end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Emotional abuse

Minor: Terminal illness and Cancer

stormywolf's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

 I had utterly no clue what this book was about. Basically, I needed a book recommended on BookBub for a reading challenge, and I found this on a list of books that featured libraries and bookstores. I thought the summary made it sound light, mysterious, and kinda cozy. Little did I know just what I was in for...

Read my full review at The Wolf's Den

Overall, this story devastated me but in the best way possible. I went in mostly unassuming, with it not being in my typical genres or demographic, and was utterly blindsided with how much I related to these characters and their doubts, their fears, their regrets, and their struggles. But by the same token, as they were built back up with changes and support, I too came out the other side with a feeling of reassurance and hope. The literary lean didn't hurt things either. I'd highly recommend this for anyone looking for something about later-life changes, self-discovery, self-improvement, family drama and reconciliation, or the importance of love, support, and moving forward. So for anyone who is feeling a bit lost right now—let's face it, there are plenty of us—you might just find a little bit of comfort within this book's pages. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Death, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Cancer, and Lesbophobia

thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

This story of Martha and her family, Lilian, Zelda, Betty, and Thomas, along with friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, is quite sweet and charming.
  
Whilst Martha begins to find herself, I felt frustrated and annoyed with her, her family and her past. Although all is forgiven and forgotten as Martha digs in her heels and everything gets sorted out.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

therobinjoyce's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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 picked this book up from my library on a whim, having never heard of it before, and can honestly say it was been the most heartwarming, thrilling, emotional books I've had the pleasure of reading this year. 

Phaedra's writing style and characters are so beautifully done they feel real. Not merely the figment of an author's imagination penned as words onto a page. Each character lives and breathes and invokes a whole plethora of emotion - rage, sorrow, pity, love - from the reader.

I identified so much with young Martha - her ideals and personality - and she was written so well that it was often heart-wrenching to read. The sign of a true wordsmith.

If I could rate it higher than 5 stars I would. This book has everything! Mystery, drama, romance, tension, and even a hint...of magic.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death