Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

37 reviews

thevietvegan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad 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

5.0

Honestly I think don’t remember what it was that inspired me to add this to my TBR but this book was gutwrenching and so hard in so many ways but so beautiful and familiar in many. It’s also written so beautifully and shares such concisely perfect moments that I can picture or feel so clearly. I love when an author is able to so this.

It had a few traditional romance novel tropes but it surprised me in so many ways. At first it was really hard to read Jayne’s thoughts and perspectives. I thought, wow, is this what its like to hate yourself so much? Seeing how jayne steels herself from being hurt and how she throws herself into shit situations was really hard to read. My heart hurt for her. 

The dynamic of June and Jayne was so clear and vivid and truthful of so many sibling relationships.

I wanted to hate Patrick but I liked him. I liked who P and J were for each other. I wanted something good for her with him and I am really glad he wasn’t the catalyst for her to change. I’m so thankful it was her and her sister and her own desire for change and not a love interest.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cancer, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Abandonment

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny lighthearted tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Medical content

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Grief

Minor: Sexual content and Child death

xyloblue's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Eating disorder, Cursing, Child death, Bullying, Body shaming, and Alcohol

jessica_claburn's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Eating disorder

Moderate: Grief and Child death

Minor: Miscarriage

nataliegracebates's review against another edition

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Alcohol, Vomit, and Grief

anniefwrites's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

There's really no one who can beat the intricacy of Mary H. K. Choi's language. Her writing oozes intelligence, and her details are always microscopically specific. She weaves together a story so tightly wound that, when it finally unravels, it feels like a breath of fresh air. She humanizes her characters so fully, and when they do things that surprise you, it turns out to be exactly in line with who they are. An excellent read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Cancer, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, and Drug use

hels_archive's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

Review Summary : In terms of pacing, I'd likely have finished this book in a day if it didn't elicit so many emotions. As the reader, you shadow Jayne through the thick of it all: her environment, her relationships, her memories, and her self destructive choices. While the most remarkable facet of the story lies in the character development, the plot pulse is strong to carry the narrative to the end. And speaking of the ending, hands down one of my favorite book endings to date. It's a book of complicated love, for self and others, a book about growth and healing for the self, and a book of fernweh... of longing to longing for places you've never been and connections you crave.

Rating: 5/5 . Jayne's gonna stick with me for a long time and if you're young, questionably dumb, and carrying unresolved hurts I think you should give it a read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cancer, and Chronic illness

Minor: Blood, Bullying, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

finn_nn's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility, Sexual violence, Drug use, Grief, and Child death

sachikoriddle's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Eating disorder, Racism, and Vomit

Moderate: Blood, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

What a fucking fantastic book. I relate so much. She went through such horrible things, I just wanted to hold her. The audacity of some characters. I felt it in my soul. As much as the last chapter wants me to love June and their mum, I would never forgive them. I want to imagine a bright future for Jane. She deserves it. My fucking heart.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Alcoholism and Infertility