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allieh24's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Medical content, Death, Toxic relationship, and Chronic illness
tamtamslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That aside, this is a story of grief, loss, hope, and love. On the prose level, this is written beautifully—especially if you love metaphorical language and imagery. The characters are all unique and individualized, and you will never be the same after C and Neo (and if you are, well, lucky you not falling victim to emotional tragedy).
You will be confused at times when it comes to the narrator, and I can’t stress this enough—THAT IS THE POINT. Will you like the narrator by the end? Maybe not, but this isn’t just their story.
I listened to the audio version of this, and the fact that it was read by Lancali makes it that much more emotional. I knew very little about this book going in, but I couldn’t stop listening, even when I was left with more questions.
The structure isn’t perfect, and it messes with the pacing some, but the characters, themes, and language make up for that.
Again, check the trigger warnings. I am not joking when I say there is some parts where I had to pause and take a f*cking breath. This is set in a hospital with a few different sick characters who all have different relationships with others and themselves, so it is meant to be emotional.
I’ll list the main TW here (since I post the review on Goodreads as well).
Grief, child abuse (shown through bruises and injuries mostly, but there is a instance where there is some details), anorexia, self harm, child illnesses, abandonment, and one paragraph mention of rape (not graphic or detailed, just mentioned).
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Mental illness
Minor: Rape
lilareads5678's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was the saddest book I have read by far. But one of my favorites. You don’t learn much about the main character but in the end it all comes together. This book had the best quotes ever. It was also so poetically beautiful.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Terminal illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Chronic illness, Child death, Eating disorder, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Vomit, Rape, War, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
aidanjo8's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Violence, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Homophobia, Suicide, and Rape
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Body horror, Child death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
robin_hood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was an easy read, yes, but I really only finished it because I was reading it for someone else. If I’d picked it up on my own, I would’ve probably DNFed it.
The ending was? Sad? The other characters’ stories and
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Self harm
Minor: Rape
soyabeanos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
lecute_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Bullying
Moderate: Medical content, Homophobia, and Vomit
alanakuni's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Violence, Death, Abortion, Self harm, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Bullying, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
vi_holmes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I will say that the ending felt long winded and some of the dialog was idealic/unnatural especially in the last quarter of the book. But the way the author doesn't shy away from the harsh subjects she tackles in the book really makes up for!
Graphic: Child death, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Eating disorder, Grief, Self harm, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Hate crime, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault