Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Just by Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell

7 reviews

slintangel's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Ableism, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Chronic illness and Bullying

sydneybedell's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Ableism, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

hannah_lilli's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

zed_dog's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

Add this to the queer canon! Very funny; unexpectedly moving. Gay professional with cerebral palsy tears down his picture-perfect life, struggles with addiction, and tries to figure out what to build in its place. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Ableism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

caseythereader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective 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

3.25

Thanks to Atria Books for the free copy of this book.

 - JUST BY LOOKING AT HIM is at turns both hilarious and serious. It gives readers an unflinching look at Eliot's slide into self-hatred as he burns down his entire life piece by piece.
- I wish this book had leaned harder into the satire/absurd elements. It was there, particularly in the scenes at Eliot's job, but I don't think it went far enough.
- There were also a few passages where the main character just flat out stated the lessons learned or parallels drawn between incidents instead of trusting the reader to find it for themselves.
- All that said, I'm here for books about queer people being messy, terrible people. I'm interested to see what O'Connell writes next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Ableism, Addiction, Infidelity, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, and Vomit

spookieboogie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Dysphoria, Ableism, and Infidelity

Minor: Drug abuse, Body shaming, Misogyny, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail