Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

18 reviews

tysuckz's review

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

I love the way it was written. It felt like I was inside of Ash's head, hearing her every thought as everything happened around her. 

I did think some things were left unfinished and that was slightly annoying  but honestly that could've just been symbolic to death. This is the only thing that knocked it down from a five. 

Absolutely heartbreaking. You really grow to love Edi so needless to say the ending hurts ! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cancer, and Alcohol

abisnail564's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-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

3.75

A sad but funny story about friendship and grief. I felt very connected to the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Vomit, Miscarriage, and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

tracey1981's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

Despite loving books more than I love almost anything, I haven't felt *this* way about a book in a very long time. Before page 35 I had already cried and had laughed out loud several times. In the last 60 pages, I stayed up well past my bedtime, which I don't really do anymore cause I'm old, and I actually almost got out of bed to go order the book because I was reading a library copy and needed to confirm that I would have it on my shelf forever - but then I couldn't decide just how many copies I should order because I want to gift it to everyone I know. This is definitely in my top three favourites ever. 

The characters, relationships and dialogue felt believable and relatable to me. The focus on micro-moments of joy and heartbreak just pulled me in so much. I loved Newman's writing style and her ability to have me laughing and crying in the same paragraph. I can't recommend it highly enough. 

Content warning: this book is set in a hospice and focuses on imminent death. The humour is dark and involves laughing at things we don't normally laugh at. There was at least one joke related to sexual violence that I didn't think was funny.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, and Rape

jen_again's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Grief, Cancer, and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage and Medical content

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

flowchelle's review

emotional funny sad fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Excrement, Sexual content, Death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Medical content

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I feel like all my reviews of the books I love say the same thing, but I suppose that's just a reflection of the sort of literature I adore: books that are so obviously loving and achingly human (!). WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS has it all. If you have a friend in your life who you would do anything for, be prepared to tear up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pregnancy, Infertility, and Infidelity

cait's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Excrement, Infertility, Medical trauma, Cancer, Death, Medical content, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content

bookbunny's review

dark emotional funny sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Cancer, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent