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carlytenille's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts
ziggypop's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
greenmind's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A searing novel on grief and life after the death of your soulmate. Really beautiful. I struggled to read it quickly as it’s so evocative and Jessie Cave writes with a matter-of-factness which makes you feel like you’re right there with Ruth. The pain of grief is present throughout and I have a lot of respect for the fact this book came from the author’s experience grieving her own brother’s sudden death. It’s a brave piece of work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood
bps's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
abbruzzese's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
I wish I had stayed up for longer. I wish I had watched her sleeping, I wish we’d had one more chat about nothing or one more episode. I wish I had known.
Holy fuck. I don't think I've ever gotten so worked up, so snotty-nosed, over a book. I was in tears—big, fat, shaking sobs—for most of it. This is so well done, I loved it. But I will never read it again because it hurts too much.
The time jumps were a bit confusing in the beginning, but I wouldn't have wanted it any different. I can't imagine a book about grief organized in a linear, chronological way, as if grief gives a shit about the concept of forward progress or moving on. Ruth's grief is written so honestly—ugly thoughts and bad actions included—that it is physically painful to imagine being her. The writing is simple and relatable, which hurts more as it's so easy to see myself in the story. IMO, Jessie Cave writes similarly to Sally Rooney, but Cave's writing is a million times more tolerable.
I don’t want to get in the car, I can’t leave my sister. But the driver opens the car door and suddenly, I am. I’m leaving her.
I wonder what this book feels like to people without siblings. As someone with two sisters, both younger than me—the Ruths to my Hannah—this book tore me apart. I loved my sisters before I started reading, and I love them now that I've finished, but it's different. Something about being reminded that one day I will lose them hurts so badly and in such a way that the fact that they're still alive and well doesn't fix the ache in me.
Brooke, Eden—I love you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
acosyreader's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Alcohol
amandasharabooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
e11en's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
ccassidy98's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Suicide
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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? N/A
5.0
This book ripped my heart out. Heartfelt and painfully raw, we witness the pain, horror, and messiness of grief. I loved Ruth, the narrator, and I did cry my eyes out at how much she suffers through this book. Her anger, pain, frustration, sadness, and love bring her to life as you read. Her overt honesty is at times too much and are uncomfortable, but also lead to some very funny moments. Her unconditional love for her sister Hannah is almost painful to watch in the aftermath of the accident that happens. Their relationship is so well captured, I felt that anybody with siblings would find moments in this book they would relate to. Their bickering and conversations with each other helped to enrichen both characters, and their dynamic together is something special to read. As usual, I am not capable of doing a favourite book of mine justice in a review. This book was beautiful and unique, and I absolutely adored it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual content