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your_true_shelf's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
I just finished this book for the second time and I adored it so much just like I did on the first read. The writing is beautiful, the story is so engaging and I really knew the characters.
I forgot how anxiety is described quite so intensely, so big trigger warning for this if you'd struggle to read about it.
The audiobook has an incredible narrator.
I forgot how anxiety is described quite so intensely, so big trigger warning for this if you'd struggle to read about it.
The audiobook has an incredible narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual harassment
adelal's review
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
love me a well written book where not much happens
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexism
asleepyreader's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment
abigailbrooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
love, love, love!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Pedophilia, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
jopriestley's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Wow. I really did enjoy this book. There were moments that really stuck with me and that I genuinely connected with - the observations about men, whilst probably not that groundbreaking, it was the first time I'd actually seen them written down. For example, she wrote about how men always felt like they were destined for greatness and were shocked when things weren't going as perfectly for them. I love this. Because it is just correct and I am yet to meet a woman with this trait.
I also just really enjoyed the writing - I feel like she captured Casey's feelings of panic and hopelessness really well. I really felt that the feeling was ubiquitous throughout the novel.
And.. I am happy she ended up with Silas.
I also just really enjoyed the writing - I feel like she captured Casey's feelings of panic and hopelessness really well. I really felt that the feeling was ubiquitous throughout the novel.
And.. I am happy she ended up with Silas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent
char_j's review
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I love this book, but I’m a writer. It felt like home, like a book that inspired me but didn’t make me feel incapable. There are so many poignant descriptions and little moments that resonate so effortlessly. lots of beauty in the mundane in this book.
it is, however, entirely slice of life. Frankly, if i weren’t a writer, I might have been somewhat bored by this book. Don’t go into it expecting intrigue or sweeping romance; it’s more like a long hug from an old, familiar friend. Comfort brings both boredom and relief, in my experience.
It’s shy of five stars for me for a few reasons. I wish there had been clearer character development of fewer characters. there is a large supplemental cast who were imo mostly unnecessary and i got bogged down trying to remember who was who. i felt that the ending was rushed, which was unfortunate because it didn’t seem beyond the realm of the story, but it should have taken more time than it did to be wrapped up in a bow. Finally, this isn’t very specific, but there was just a kind of spark missing for me. i’m not sure if it’s because Casey never really took on a discernable form for me (beyond a grieving woman with anxiety) and so i didn’t fully relate to her decisions, or if it was perhaps a lack of stakes, but i did feel that the story itself didn’t pull me in as much as i would have liked. that being said, i can also see this becoming a book that i return to later to find warmth and comfort in its pages.
I do think that if you are going through loss, particularly that of a parent, this book might be good for you. It depicts with such care the absolute hell of grief, the physicality of it, the way it permeates your life. It gives you permission to feel all of the disgusting feelings that loss (in various forms) stirs up, and that can be such a beautiful gift, to see that hardship normalized without shame.
if you like listening to your friends tell long, detailed, objectively uninteresting stories because you just like to hear how they put words to their experiences, you’ll like this book. if you just want to be gently held by something and reminded that human beings are messy, messy creatures, you’ll like this book.
it is, however, entirely slice of life. Frankly, if i weren’t a writer, I might have been somewhat bored by this book. Don’t go into it expecting intrigue or sweeping romance; it’s more like a long hug from an old, familiar friend. Comfort brings both boredom and relief, in my experience.
It’s shy of five stars for me for a few reasons. I wish there had been clearer character development of fewer characters. there is a large supplemental cast who were imo mostly unnecessary and i got bogged down trying to remember who was who. i felt that the ending was rushed, which was unfortunate because it didn’t seem beyond the realm of the story, but it should have taken more time than it did to be wrapped up in a bow. Finally, this isn’t very specific, but there was just a kind of spark missing for me. i’m not sure if it’s because Casey never really took on a discernable form for me (beyond a grieving woman with anxiety) and so i didn’t fully relate to her decisions, or if it was perhaps a lack of stakes, but i did feel that the story itself didn’t pull me in as much as i would have liked. that being said, i can also see this becoming a book that i return to later to find warmth and comfort in its pages.
I do think that if you are going through loss, particularly that of a parent, this book might be good for you. It depicts with such care the absolute hell of grief, the physicality of it, the way it permeates your life. It gives you permission to feel all of the disgusting feelings that loss (in various forms) stirs up, and that can be such a beautiful gift, to see that hardship normalized without shame.
if you like listening to your friends tell long, detailed, objectively uninteresting stories because you just like to hear how they put words to their experiences, you’ll like this book. if you just want to be gently held by something and reminded that human beings are messy, messy creatures, you’ll like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
kizzy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
julied's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Sexual content
dj_teasdale's review
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
4.5
It was a treat to read about Casey as an author, to recognise the struggles and joys of writing. It is an inspirational novel on a woman finding her identity and focused on her whole being, not just relationships. Beautifully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Grief and Pedophilia
This is a very comforting and inspiring novel to read on grief and mental health issues as a part of the main story.platypusinrainboots's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer, Medical trauma, Sexism, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
(Mentioned in the front cover — Death of a parent.)