Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

41 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Death of parent, Mental illness, Infertility, Grief, and Cancer

imanqblake's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.75

Wow! Where do I start? I haven't been able to read much if these types of books before, and normally stick to fast-paced books with young heroines defying the set system or romancing an unseducable man.

However, this book is completely different from that but pulled me in all the same. The MC is a woman in her early thirties, a writer boggled down with the death of her mother, her downfalls in life, and the fear of loneliness. It feels like you're stepping into this very real person's life, and the imagery in this book doesn't feel pretentious or try-hard. The emotions portrayed feel like what a real person might feel in that Era of their lives, and the lessons she picked up along the way aren't forced down our throats. 

It's an easy read, one filled with a MC that is relatable to the female audience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Mental illness

jswisher36's review

dark funny inspiring 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

4.5

If this book was a song, it would be Funeral by Phoebe Bridgers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape

ecn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read (in the way it was written). It’s so beautiful and sad and perfectly encapsulates how grief affects our lives.

My only critique is how quickly the ending came and certain aspects of the man with the kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cancer, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Death, and Mental illness

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Infidelity

sib_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual content

lauradvb's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Minor: Mental illness

allyordyna's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Literary prose; realistic portrayal of love

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

reginaborsellino's review

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

The plot isn’t the most exciting, and I hate pretty much every male love interest, but for once that’s the point. Very skillfully written, and the entire understanding of the main character turns on a three word phrase in a masterful way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content

hannahvlfnt's review

dark emotional inspiring relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Infertility and Rape