Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

113 reviews

randiesrno's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

For most of the book, I wondered what was going on. It got really interesting towards the end and the relationship between the main character and her mother truly stuck out to me the most and resonated a lot with me. I thought it was good (but lowkey wanted it to be more sapphic but maybe that’s just me). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Addiction, Death, and Toxic relationship

katharina90's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

The main character is unlikeable and frustrating. She treats others horribly, but throws a fit when she receives the same treatment. 

The trauma at the root of her harmful choices isn't explored in a way that works for me, and without seeing much of a change in behavior I found it difficult to care. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Addiction

Minor: Colonisation and Drug abuse

bisexualwentworth'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An interesting portrait of a very messy, complicated main character. The unnamed protagonist is dealing with family issues, immigrant trauma, addiction, and internalized homophobia/biphobia. She forms unhealthy relationships. She tries to be better. The cycle repeats over and over. If you want a very messy bisexual book by a Palestinian author, this definitely fits the bill. It did get too repetitive for me at times, and I wanted more from certain aspects, but I would still recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Addiction

bkschwartz's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny 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

3.0

Bookclub read, probably not one I would have chosen. It was very well written though. The story pops between present day and memories constantly. The lead is messy, a complex woman who self sabotages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

baguettegay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia

pallasreads's review

challenging emotional 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

3.75

This is a really dynamic exploration of identity, abusive parenting, and recovery that fell apart a bit in the last 30 pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Biphobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Islamophobia, and Addiction

Minor: Death

kvokolek's review against another edition

reflective

• Loveable characters? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Infidelity, and Addiction

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Suicide

Minor: Drug abuse and Rape

hannahyorkey's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder and Addiction

dangselena's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

The timeline jumped around so much with little context so it was a bit hard to read. Side characters weren’t fleshed out enough to feel meaningful. The MC isn’t like able, which is fine, but there wasn’t much of a plot besides her being horrible to other people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Biphobia, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Alcohol, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Drug use

evelynyle_88's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Addiction