Reviews tagging 'Grief'

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

137 reviews

chezler24's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

This was quite the finale for such a gripping series! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing. Pip was in such a rough spot at the start of the book (and continued to stay in this rough spot throughout the novel); I just wanted her to be free of it all, but I suppose *this* was the best way for her to process her pain while utilizing her skill set. After the second book, I was wondering how Holly Jackson was going to up the excitement factor, and she delivered in some unexpected ways! I was practically screaming at Pip's decisions during several key scenes in the book. I don't want to spoil too much in this review, but Pip's skills were pushed to their limits to carry out justice and solve a few remaining mysteries left in the town.  The ending almost devastated me, but the final page secured me some remaining threads of hope. 

Thoroughly enjoyed this series and getting to know Pip and the other characters along the way. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Stalking, Violence, Sexism, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Addiction

kekla_08's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It is really good and i enjoyed it but it got a little boring at times where it was always talking about the trauma she endured in «good girl, bad blood» with stanley and the gun triggers

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Grief, Death, Torture, Kidnapping, and Blood

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

moondaisyy's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Animal death, Murder, Violence, Rape, and Gore

Moderate: Grief, Stalking, Sexual violence, Drug use, Sexual assault, Body horror, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Confinement

fanboyriot's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

♡ Cold Case

♡ Feminine Rage

♡ How to Get Away with Murder

Wow, what a roller coaster this book was.  The most tense out of the series for sure.  I got through the first part then quickly worried how everything would come together by the end.  Which I’m super happy with how this ended.  Everything came full circle and it was so satisfying to read even if some parts were anxiety inducing.  Pip really slayed with her last case (pun may or may not be intended).

And yes, this book also has stunning formatting with all the extra details in the design of the book.  I absolutely loved this series and highly recommend it.

Spice Level: n/a

POV: First Person

Release Date: 28, September 2021

Rep: BIPOC (Main and Side Characters)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Cursing, Kidnapping, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Stalking, Gore, Addiction, Death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, and Mental illness

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Child death, Suicide, Vomit, and Physical abuse

reading_something_else's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

Giving this book five stars because it was written so well. I think any criticism for this book comes from discomfort for the choices Pip makes, but I think it’s brilliant that the author chooses to evoke our thoughts on what justice means to us and what we are willing to do for our sense of right and wrong. Pip is such a complex and intriguing character, and I feel like the buildup throughout the trilogy of the plot and of her internal conflict was paced and handled so well. She might not be the most healthy character, and I definitely don’t think the author is condoning all of her actions or asking the readers to support them, but the events of the book are a consequence of Pip’s fascination with true crime and a large message is that obsession can be dangerous. 

I love how the plot was executed, and how events from the first two books were all tied full circle in this one, I always love when that happens. You kind of figure out the mystery early on in the beginning, but then the twists after come fast enough to leave it exciting. My only complaint is the very very end.

If your boyfriend helps you clean up a crime scene, manipulate a de*d body, frame a m*rder on a relatively innocent person, then potentially implicates himself in connection with the crime to take suspicion off of you, and then basically proposes to you, all while being supportive and loving, do you break up with him, yes or no? I feel like if Pip was using the brain that helped her frame a h*micide, she would have figured out how to not break up the man who would literally do and has done anything for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Stalking

Moderate: Grief and Vomit

Minor: Sexual violence and Panic attacks/disorders

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.5

My least fave of the series. I enjoyed a lot of it, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as the others. I liked seeing how Pip deals with PTSD and liked following Pip around for finding info on the DT killer. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

ellarae0111's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

Amazing end to an amazing series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Suicide, Abandonment, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Rape, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Grief, Hate crime, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexism

ynaiita_5896's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

🔨 I've finished this series and it's bittersweet because while I enjoyed every page of every book, it's over. My journey with Pip is complete. This finale was equally thrilling and suspenseful. I did not expect this plot and was at the edge of my seat throughout. 

🔨 Pip continues to amaze me and her character development was so engaging. It was much needed. It was exactly how it should be considering everything that had happened in Little Kilton. I'm excited to see what the TV series will be like and whether it captures all the emotions I have as a reader. Highly recommend this series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Drug abuse, Murder, Grief, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Stalking

hushedreads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Murder, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Gun violence

Minor: Animal death and Rape

anacecylopez's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Hate crime, Drug abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Violence, and Drug use