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yadira315's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Wow. I have no words. What a beautiful depiction of grief. I love how it explored every layer that she went through. It is definitely a challenging read and her descriptive prose kept me turning the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
mitchell_1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
jemiddleton7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
This is a beautifully written book that puts you right in the middle of the process of grief. It is difficult to read because of the content. However despite its sadness, the book is well-paced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
isabelsophiex's review against another edition
dark
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Death, and Blood
catwhisperer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Death, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, Death, and Grief
spacebee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicide
tlaynejones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The best book I’ve listened to this year. Warm, messy as hell, funny, so searingly sad, honest. This is a story about grief and love. I don’t know if I would have started it if I’d realised just how foundational grief is to the story, but I’m very glad I did. Nwabineli has written about a Nigerian British woman in her early 30s, who had, she thought, been happily married for the last 10years. But then she discovered her husband had died by suicide. The story takes place during the first months after this devastating event. I found the story to include enough balance to make the book compelling and enjoyable. Ugh enjoyable feels crass, considering the topic. I enjoyed getting to know Eve and her family, I found the process of grief, as it’s described in the book, challenged me and made me think, and I enjoyed discovering a new author to look out for. Obviously the grief and loss are a lot, and the specific mind fuck for loved ones coming to terms with a suicide is a lot. With that caution in mind, this is highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Racism, and Vomit
mariahelen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
Best book I've read this year
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Full disclaimer: I’ve been lucky enough to not have experienced too much loss in my life (yet) — one of my aunts (dad’s cousin) passed when I was in elementary school, another aunt (my mom’s cousin’s wife) passed when I was in college & my grandpa passed in 2017 (all to cancer💔). However, for the most part, my loved ones have been pretty healthy (knock on wood).
I’ve never been in Eve’s shoes. To lose your life partner. To lose the love of your life. I can only imagine that level of grief, despair & anger. Onyi painted such a rich, nuanced, poignant picture of that grief though, & I’m so grateful for that.
Something that frustrated me about Eve’s journey was the fact that no one just ✨let her be✨ She was always having to accommodate or make room for someone else’s grief or questioning. Eve was never given the space to just grieve on her own, the way she wanted.
If you have a trigger for horrible mother-in-laws, take note that Aspen is the absolute worst 😭 this is honestly a note for me that if we ever adopt kids, to be a kind and welcoming mother-in-law because I do not want to be the villain in my future in-law’s story 🥺😔
I think this was an excellent story on how grief operates within different family dynamics and how it can never be about onlyyyy you. There’s everyone else who loved that person & sometimes to share that grief feels suffocating. I wanted to throw hands for Eve 🤬 but she had a lot more grace, patience & understanding that I don’t know if I could have??? Anyway, this is a sad but honest and illuminating story & I think it’s an important reminder to make space for others to navigate their feelings, rather than always centering yourself.
Full disclaimer: I’ve been lucky enough to not have experienced too much loss in my life (yet) — one of my aunts (dad’s cousin) passed when I was in elementary school, another aunt (my mom’s cousin’s wife) passed when I was in college & my grandpa passed in 2017 (all to cancer💔). However, for the most part, my loved ones have been pretty healthy (knock on wood).
I’ve never been in Eve’s shoes. To lose your life partner. To lose the love of your life. I can only imagine that level of grief, despair & anger. Onyi painted such a rich, nuanced, poignant picture of that grief though, & I’m so grateful for that.
Something that frustrated me about Eve’s journey was the fact that no one just ✨let her be✨ She was always having to accommodate or make room for someone else’s grief or questioning. Eve was never given the space to just grieve on her own, the way she wanted.
If you have a trigger for horrible mother-in-laws, take note that Aspen is the absolute worst 😭 this is honestly a note for me that if we ever adopt kids, to be a kind and welcoming mother-in-law because I do not want to be the villain in my future in-law’s story 🥺😔
I think this was an excellent story on how grief operates within different family dynamics and how it can never be about onlyyyy you. There’s everyone else who loved that person & sometimes to share that grief feels suffocating. I wanted to throw hands for Eve 🤬 but she had a lot more grace, patience & understanding that I don’t know if I could have??? Anyway, this is a sad but honest and illuminating story & I think it’s an important reminder to make space for others to navigate their feelings, rather than always centering yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death