Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Somebody Loves You

Somebody Loves You is told in sparse fragmentary vignettes. It’s a beautifully written story of Ruby’s growing up in a family impacted by racism, mental health issues and sexual assault. Ruby may be mute but she is an astute observer. A quietly compelling read.

Content Warnings

readersreadingnook's review

Go to review page

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious 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

3.0

Content Warnings

bestienicoley's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

Content Warnings

lilybisliterate's review

Go to review page

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

Content Warnings

abbie_05's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

thecolourblue's review

Go to review page

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

4.5

This one surprised me. I picked up the book based on the cover alone, and didn't really have any expectations for it at all, but this was... some of the most beautiful writing I have read this year.

Somewhere between plotless novel and poetry vignettes, this is the story of a young mute girl, her rebellious older sister, her kind but lost father and her mother, who is slowly losing herself to mental illness.

Not a single word in this book is wasted. The writing is both sparse and so so poetic and lovely to read. It's a very short text, but it feels like a complete story. Not a traditional story with a beginning, middle and end, but the full picture of a family in all their pain and beauty.

Content Warnings

aaally's review

Go to review page

fast-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

2.5

Content Warnings

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad slow-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

2.75

This audiobook didn't do it for me.
The prose and writing itself were poetic and almost ethereal. However, the vignette-like, disjointed chapters and nonlinear storyline left me wondering often "what is going on?" and "what is the author trying to convey?". I was frequently distracted from the book or confused by it, which could've been my fault or a matter of simply reading the wrong book at the wrong time.

Content Warnings

More...