Scan barcode
bxcvi's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
kellimartin22's review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
3.75
The lack of discernible plot made this book hard to get into before I really let myself be drawn into Casey as a character. She is somehow so lovable but also unlikable on a deep level — you want to ask her why she keeps accepting the bare minimum and making self-destructive choices with these questionable (terrible) men. But then in the last 30% of the book, I felt like I could just relate to her so closely even though we are nothing alike - the way this book is written is so real and Casey’s emotions are your emotions and her slow climb upwards has you realize you were rooting for her all along. I also loved all the literary references and the way King writes about writing is so inspiring and real. Really loved this book, even though it was quite slow at first!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Cancer
maarigirl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
3.75
In some parts I found this book a tough read as it focuses a lot on the harsh realities of life but it did also show the sweetness of ordinary moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Mental illness, and Death of parent
cylite's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Pedophilia
areadingstan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
‘There’s a particular feeling in your body when something goes right after a long time of things going wrong. It feels warm and sweet and loose.’
I found in this book what I didn’t know I was seeking - a deep and realistic depiction of grief and its non-linear nature. A main character - a writer - whose experiences and struggles are all too relatable, but whose successes are worth waiting for.
The captivating story of Casey as she goes through a challenging part of life, grieving the loss of her mother, but also grieving the she things she has longed for; to write and to love.
We are with her as she goes to shift after shift at Iris, the restaurant she waitresses at, as she tries to feel at home in the small rented room she can just about afford, as she tries to finish the novel she has been writing for a long, long time.
She meets two men who are very different, and begins to date, unhealed from her previous experiences. Slowly through the drudgery of everyday life, though the trials she continues to face, we get to witness Casey work through her pain, let herself feel what she has refused to for so long, and we have the joy of seeing her through to the other side of this, to success.
But this book doesn’t feel like an inspirational story. It is simply the everyday, the struggle, the one foot in front of the other until the clouds start to clear.
For anyone who writes, this is a book for you. But even if you don’t, if you’re looking for someone to fight for and follow through a difficult path, someone to be proud of - read this book. The language is rich and compelling, I felt entirely captivated and will definitely be turning to this again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abandonment
nzmerchant's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Pedophilia, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
aweso10's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
this was such a sweet surprise read!! dove deep into relationships, death, mental illness, work culture, all the things. i found the characters to have their own little icks and quirks but just enough so that it made them charming and realistic, not overboard. a nice palate cleanser of a book and a very quick read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Mental illness
jhansell's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault and Mental illness
bxaisabxlla's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness
samarakroeger's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm conflicted because I really really did not like the first ~1/3 of the book, but then I found myself really liking the second half. kinda feels like two different people wrote the sections of this book -- the first half was pretentious, overwritten, and not very engaging. I was bored. I did not notice these issues in the latter half of the book.
I'm really glad I stuck with this book (ended up reading it in one day) despite the shaky start. I did find the storyline and Casey's ultimate path to be pretty predictable (to be fair, I would have been mad had she made different decisions). parts of it reminded me of Miss Iceland (restaurants, aspiring writers, mediocre men, mental illness), and parts of it reminded me of You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty (not a compliment).
I'd give the first third 2 stars but the rest of the book 4/5, so I'll settle with 3.5.
I'm really glad I stuck with this book (ended up reading it in one day) despite the shaky start. I did find the storyline and Casey's ultimate path to be pretty predictable (to be fair, I would have been mad had she made different decisions). parts of it reminded me of Miss Iceland (restaurants, aspiring writers, mediocre men, mental illness), and parts of it reminded me of You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty (not a compliment).
I'd give the first third 2 stars but the rest of the book 4/5, so I'll settle with 3.5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infertility, Grief, and Cancer