Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

35 reviews

thattheatrekid's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I adore this musical above all others and this book did not disappoint! Heavy swearing but there were some extra scenes not seen in the musical that really added to the story. It’s told in a conversational manner and you don’t even realize how fast you’re turning the pages until it’s done. This plot and these characters will always have my heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death, Suicide, and Child death

Minor: Drug use

bizarabooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

If you are a fan of the musical you will deeply appreciate this book, it dives deeper in to some of the characters, especially Evan and Connor. I thought the parts from Connor's perspective added to the story and actually gave more insight in to what Connor was like. I also think the book painted the picture well in terms of Evan's moral compass and how that changes as the story develops. However, I thought that the book would perhaps hold Evan more accountable for his actions but instead he faces no consequences for the trauma he caused the Murphy family. He faces guilt but literally nothing else. However I thought that Evan telling Zoe about Miguel was showing that he was trying to help in some way but at the same time it was more to make himself feel less guilty. Overall I liked the book and on audible at moments Zoe is singing which was a nice aspect but thought the book could have delved deeper in to addressing the pain Evan causes.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

kaylasbookgram's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

“That’s what happens when people leave, I think. When they’re gone, you don’t have to be reminded of all the bad things. They can just stay the way you want them forever. Perfect.”

This book was everything I expected and more. As someone who was a complete nobody in high school I related so much to both Evan and Connor. I understood why Evan did what he did. Because already being at the bottom of the food chain you don’t really want to feed more fuel for the bullies to use against you. I knew from seeing the trailer to the movie I needed to read the book and I knew I was going to cry and be slightly trigger from my rough high school days. I can’t wait to see how well the movie does at remaking this amazing book! 

TW: Bullying. Suicide. Attempt Suicide. Drugs. Alcohol. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

isadreamsof's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense

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

3.5

I definitely think this is only something you can fully appreciate as a fan of the musical. Supplementary reading, if you will. Dear Evan Hansen doesn’t feel as great without the music, but to the book's credit, it wasn't bad. The strength of the novelization is that the structure gives more nuance to the characters because there's just more time and space for them. The most notable addition, of course, would be Connor's point of view and his backstory, along with the addition of Miguel.

Overall, a good read for a seasoned fan of the stage version, but I'd probably pass on it if I wasn't familiar with the source material. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction and Toxic friendship

Minor: Homophobia

cadybooks's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

unreadbass's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

sofiajearally's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm biased because I've been obsessed with the broadway soundtrack for two years and was dying to see the musical (thanks Covid :))) : I'm giving the book three stars but I probably would have rated it lower if it had been my first introduction to the story. I was super disappointed.
I found the writing dry and, without Ben Platt's voice, Evan was not endearing to me at all. My favorite parts ended up being Connor's points of view. However, the end of the epilogue was gorgeous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

littlefreckles's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

jstarshine16's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death, Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Addiction, and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Stalking

ka_ke's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

5.0

Dear Evan Hansen is a phenomenally sad story.  DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU ENJOY CRYING! As a fan of the musical the book was an excellent addition to my love of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders