Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

41 reviews

casparquarius's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

this was a fun read! I loved the POV character, and even when I wished she'd make different choices it was refreshing to feel like they all made sense for her. the ending felt like a kind of jarring tonal shift but it was also gratifying and enjoyable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

thehorrormom's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kaneebli's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

jillcosta's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

This was better than I expected it to be. Until the last few chapters, I kept questioning reality and wondered how I could suspend reality at the same time. It was the same feeling I had watching Everything Everywhere All at Once. I loved the relationships Margaret cultivated. And I appreciated the mother-daughter dynamic too. That was probably the most real thing about the book and also the best part for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

chelbelle122's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The beginning had me at a 5. The middle was so slow I thought about stopping. The end wraps everything up nicely...but it was so rushed. I wouldn't say I was surprised by any of the plot twists but I did love the nonchalant attitude of the main character. I would watch the BBC version of this in a moment...but probably wouldn't read it again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

nicolesanerd's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I’m not sure that I’ve ever facepalmed from a book as much as this one made me. The characters were frustrating, to put it nicely. The plot was also completely predictable. The book contained multiple instances of hints that made it very apparent while not saying it outright. I finished in hopes that it wouldn’t be the case, but unfortunately it was. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

mari2880's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Loved this book! The plot was extremely well developed. Although some parts had a slow beat, the small moment built appropriately. I liked that this wasn’t too scary but just the right amount. I will absolutely read other titles from this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse and Fire/Fire injury

judassilver's review

dark funny mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

aparker89's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail