Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

5 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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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. 

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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