Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

90 reviews

anovelglimpse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved the narration on this audiobook. So good. I also loved this story. It was sweet, fun, emotional, sad at times, cute. So many different things. The epilogue was almost too good to be true based on the ALS worries that were woven throughout the story.

CW: ALS, drug addiction, mental illness 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

laheath's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

For a genre I don't read very often, this was hard to put down and I'll definitely be reading more from this author. I've heard this Friend Zone series can be read as stand-alone novels, so I'm hoping that's right. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Adrian and Vanessa. Some reviewers have mentioned that it's too syrupy sweet for them, but I felt there was enough real life in this to balance both characters often reflecting on their feelings. They're both successful in their careers, and dealing with dysfunctional families, while Vanessa may be facing a diagnosis of ALS. Their relationship has its hurdles, somewhat predictably, but that and the side characters all make for a great, emotional story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow. I was blown away by how much I loved this book. I have really enjoyed Abby Jimenez's other books, but this one really topped them. Abby was really able to create characters that we could connect with. She did something that is really difficult to do for many writers - create a completely believable conflict in which neither character is wrong in their position. I could see the merit to both Vanessa and Adrian's stance on what Vanessa should do regarding her life's path. I could genuinely understand why Vanessa would keep Adrian in the dark just as I could understand Adrian's feeling of betrayal. Abby created a beautiful story that is a romance, of course, but - at its core - a vehicle to show us that life really is too short to get hung up on the little things. 

This is one of the few books I can think of where it would have ended just as beautifully if it didn't have a happily ever after. Sure, it wouldn't be considered a romance technically at that point, but it would still be a beautiful story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction and Mental illness

Minor: Car accident

kellydarla's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy

caseyrich'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

keeley996's review against another edition

emotional funny informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

readuntilthelastpage's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content

bekkasbookclub's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

 Abby Jimenez does it again! I don’t even know how to review this book because I just loved it so much. Adrian and Vanessa’s relationship developed so naturally and I loved their love story. I can’t decide if this is her best book yet but it is definitely a tearjerker. Jimenez always writes a love story with depth and this one was probably her most powerful. The ALS storyline is done well and I commend Vanessa and her choice. It’s hard to read at times but the humor, banter, and sweetness gets you through. Of course characters from the previous books make an appearance but I’m hoping we can get some sort of story with all the characters in the series🤞🏼I just loved this book and series so much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Abandonment

midnightbelles's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this. I love a good found family (ish) trope and I especially loved getting to see Them fall in love and really compliment each other as a couple. Since I finally finished all 3 books in the series I will have to say that this one is better than the first in my opinion but nothing tops the happy ever after playlist. This book was really lighthearted and overall a quick and fluffy read.  Just reading about them interacting and falling in love was enough for me. 

Synopsis: Vanessa, a famous YouTuber who travels to live her best life before she dies due to ALS, meets her neighbor one night at 3am when he tries to convince her to get her baby to shut up. Seeing the terrible state she’s in because of the baby, he offers to help and they quickly fall for each other but hold back from dating. For him it’s because she doesn’t date and for her it’s because she doesn’t believe she’ll live long enough. 

This book deals with a lot of heavy topics with her sisters drug addiction and other family issues but it’s handled well and is dispersed in with the fluff and romantic/happier moments. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Medical content and Car accident

rachel_sf's review against another edition

emotional

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, and Abandonment

Content warning: Hoarding