Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

42 reviews

billub's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.25

(This review has no spoilers, but do not read it if you want to go into the book completely blind.)

Not to be rude but I am convinced the only people that have enjoyed this book either agree with Grace's terrible views or are so boring that any rude comment made in a book is the funniest thing they have ever read. But let's make one thing clear; this is not a "good for her" revenge story or even complex criticism of the current state of society. This book reads like an insecure teen making crude and edgy jokes to fit in with the cool kids and fails miserably even in that attempt.

I understand people that overlook the main character's many flaws because she is meant to be unlikeable and a murderer. I love a complex narrative with unlikable characters, but not if it means I have to subject myself to reading a self-centered, self-righteous asshole be rude and bigotted for 300 pages. And the book tries so hard to make us root for her, which is really painful to read. 

In the worst way possible, this book reminds me of Fight Club (the book). I can't call rude statements made by a main character with a superiority complex good criticism of society. 

As a young, painfully queer feminist, I am definitely not the target audience. Good for you if you are and if you enjoyed the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Violence, Suicide, Car accident, and Cancer

agirlnamedellie's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-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

3.75

I enjoyed this book but I wasn't as excited to read it as I thought I would be. I read the first half at a relatively slow pace - there were parts that I was more drawn to that others. The second half of the book was much better and I read the second half at a much faster pace than the first half. Although I didn't want to like the main character - I actually found myself liking her dry wit and actually felt like I was sympathising with her (which is strange considering what happens in the book!!!). I also liked the ending - unexpected and I didn't end up guessing the ending before I got there which is a great sign!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Cancer, Murder, Stalking, and Drug use

selincck's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Kidnapping

Minor: Cancer and Drug use

clairew97's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Pregnancy, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

karenmariscalo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

criticalbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, and Murder

sib_reads's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Car accident, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, and Drug use

coconut_'s review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-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? Yes

3.25

I expected to enjoy this book more  than i did. This book was too long with many unnecessary back story. The plot twist was a bit disappointing to me. 
But i enjoyed the sarcasm and the way she planned her murders. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Torture, Abandonment, Car accident, and Eating disorder

beca_reads's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an interesting read. I struggled at first to get into it, I found that it is quite similar in nature to killing eve. I definitely feel that Mackie was inspired by killing eve when writing this book. Personally I found it hard to keep a track of the different characters and there connection to Grace the female protagonist. I did find myself laughing out loud at points and the book was fairly well written. I do however, feel that the ending could have been more precise and condensed down.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Eating disorder

zoebill96's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I have a mixed review on this book. I really enjoyed the writing style and found it really easy to get into, however I just found the whole book too easy. Everything just fell into Graces hands too matter of fact and didn’t keep you in suspense at all. No hint that something could go wrong or that she was going to get caught, the fact she was imprisoned for something she didn’t do but miraculously got off jail time for a bit of evidence yet killing 5 people no evidence was left? Bit far fetched for my liking.

The ending really pissed me off to be honest - classic male heroism coming in at the end taking the icing on the cake and the whole fortune with it, absolute wanker.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Eating disorder, Death, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship