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inkdrinkers 's review for:
This Winter
by Alice Oseman
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Split into three parts, This Winter tackles the Spring family's Christmas day after Charlie Spring returns from eating disorder treatment. For fans of the Heartstopper graphic novels, this novella is focused on his character traversing his eating disorder, while his older sister, Tory, struggles with feeling alone and isolated in her own family.
I really enjoyed this. It was far more serious and sad than I expected to listen to, but the audiobook was done incredibly well. Each character had a voice actor and I feel like they absolutely nailed their characters, especially the tone of Tory's VA. The plot is simple, just detailing the Christmas day as each of the Spring siblings navigate their own issues and the interpersonal relationships, but that's the charm and draw to Oseman's work - it's so very human. This novella reminded me of the holidays when I was a kid, struggling with my own issues internally but having to navigate the family relationships you really only uphold for one time of the year.
I'm excited to read or listen to the rest of Alice Oseman's novels! I've always wanted to pick up the rest of the Osemanverse and this felt like a nice dip in the water to ease myself into her narrative style that wasn't reliant on art.
Content warnings: discussion of eating disorder and mental illness, a side character is drunk and makes homophobic comments.
I really enjoyed this. It was far more serious and sad than I expected to listen to, but the audiobook was done incredibly well. Each character had a voice actor and I feel like they absolutely nailed their characters, especially the tone of Tory's VA. The plot is simple, just detailing the Christmas day as each of the Spring siblings navigate their own issues and the interpersonal relationships, but that's the charm and draw to Oseman's work - it's so very human. This novella reminded me of the holidays when I was a kid, struggling with my own issues internally but having to navigate the family relationships you really only uphold for one time of the year.
I'm excited to read or listen to the rest of Alice Oseman's novels! I've always wanted to pick up the rest of the Osemanverse and this felt like a nice dip in the water to ease myself into her narrative style that wasn't reliant on art.
Content warnings: discussion of eating disorder and mental illness, a side character is drunk and makes homophobic comments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Alcohol