Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

45 reviews

burnt_milk's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

 I bought this book in Heathrow coming home, and after floundering about on public transport it seemed very apt to pick this up. Mostly I quite enjoyed it!  Some writing I didn't love, as well as needless body shaming but it's very palatable, optimistic, and predictable, in a nice way. You have to go in with a suspension of disbelief about how entrenched in each other lives these people get, in the end it's a little silly but very sweet. Pooley obviously believes that literally everyone you see has a rich inner life and sees the beauty in the mundane. and I LOVE books written in multiple point of views. I liked that Iona was kind of a mess !! I would love to have a cup of train tea with her. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Stalking

Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

blewballoon's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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

I grabbed this book based solely on the cover and title, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more. It's funny and touching, and one of those books that highlights the goodness of humanity while acknowledging the flaws of people and struggles they face. I loved the train gang. I listened on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Racism, Medical content, and Death of parent

shutupiamreading's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I think I liked the concept of this book more than I liked the actual book... This has such a promising premise, but I think the execution lacked a bit. It dragged a lot in the middle and I can't help but wonder if the plot would've been better if one of the characters was left out - especially since there was 1 in particular who barely got any attention and seemed more like a vehicle to progress the plot.

There were a lot of good themes here - mental health in health professionals, ageing, re-inventing yourself during middle age, controlling relationships - but overall I feel like the exploration of these themes lacked depth. Leaving out at least 1-2 of the characters and making it 50 pages shorter would've focused the plot more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, and Stalking

dogsyarnandbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I loved this book! Such a fun, quirky cast of diverse characters, all brought together by unlikely circumstances. However, a lot of the reviews are calling this a “lighthearted read,” and while it’s certainly heartwarming and joyful most if the time, I think calling it “lighthearted” is misleading. It deals with some very heavy topics that could be off putting to someone who picks it up expecting all warm fuzzies. If you’re a sensitive reader, you may find it difficult in some parts, but it’s truly a wonderful book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Hate crime, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

pia_h's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Classism

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, Dementia, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

jaja_1212's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I picked up this book hoping for a heartwarming contemporary read for comfort and it was exactly that and more. I was quite pleasantly surprised how the author managed to balance just the right amount of emotional topics and moments, just the right dose of "kitsch" without overdoing it. The multiple POVs were well done, as was the pacing (sometimes reading more than 2 or 3 characters' POVs can feel like it's slowing down and dragging the story, which was not the case here). 
While I really enjoyed the characters and following their bonds forming, I would have preferred Bea's character to be more fleshed out than having a supporting character role. It seemed/felt like she was used as a bit of a device to make the Ionas character look good and to have more struggles for her character to work with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

atamano's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Death of parent

laheath's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

Such a great cast of characters! When Iona manages to get people talking to each other on the train, they each learn that everyone is dealing with problems in their lives. As they get to know each other and get a lesson in empathy, they begin to help each other, often with mutual benefit. The book tackles some big issues, but has so much heart and humor, I didn't want it to end.

Apparently, there's an author's note at the end of the book. I wish it had been included in the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Stalking

caitlinjadams's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.75

This was a slow start for me, but I grew to care deeply about the stories of the ensemble of commuters and I rarely put it down through the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail