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tamtamslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That aside, this is a story of grief, loss, hope, and love. On the prose level, this is written beautifully—especially if you love metaphorical language and imagery. The characters are all unique and individualized, and you will never be the same after C and Neo (and if you are, well, lucky you not falling victim to emotional tragedy).
You will be confused at times when it comes to the narrator, and I can’t stress this enough—THAT IS THE POINT. Will you like the narrator by the end? Maybe not, but this isn’t just their story.
I listened to the audio version of this, and the fact that it was read by Lancali makes it that much more emotional. I knew very little about this book going in, but I couldn’t stop listening, even when I was left with more questions.
The structure isn’t perfect, and it messes with the pacing some, but the characters, themes, and language make up for that.
Again, check the trigger warnings. I am not joking when I say there is some parts where I had to pause and take a f*cking breath. This is set in a hospital with a few different sick characters who all have different relationships with others and themselves, so it is meant to be emotional.
I’ll list the main TW here (since I post the review on Goodreads as well).
Grief, child abuse (shown through bruises and injuries mostly, but there is a instance where there is some details), anorexia, self harm, child illnesses, abandonment, and one paragraph mention of rape (not graphic or detailed, just mentioned).
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Mental illness
Minor: Rape
ninarivagf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Bullying, Rape, Violence, Self harm, Suicide, and Sexual violence
kyrstin_p1989's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Body horror, Child death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
lucyford's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Gore, Suicide, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Grief, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Blood, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident, Abandonment, Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, and Violence
bri__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Vomit, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicide, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Violence, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Child abuse, Cursing, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
addie_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Cursing, Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit
gargs's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Vomit, Rape, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Eating disorder, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Self harm, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cancer, and Homophobia
fairybekie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Suicide, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Child death, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Fatphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Cancer, and Death
sobemoji_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was unique and different from what I’m used to. I loved it.
Graphic: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Death, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Ableism, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Body horror, Suicide, Addiction, and Homophobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
cassie12_21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Self harm, Child death, Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Ableism, Cancer, and Alcohol