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isareader's reviews
22 reviews
- 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? No
4.0
4.25
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, Cancer, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Xenophobia
Minor: Abortion and Body shaming
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The writing style is unique but repetitive at times.
Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage and Homophobia
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Infertility, Abortion, Child death, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
5.0
As a viewer of her Nickelodeon shows, her story behind the scenes/screens is so shockingly painful and heart-wrenching. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book and felt myself having a hard time putting it down (“one more page…one more chapter…two more chapters…”). I’m left feeling sad and empathetic for McCurdy and her experiences of abuse and grief but also a sense of hope and wonder around recovery and finding yourself after feeling like you were trying to be someone/something else for so long.
Graphic: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Cancer, Alcoholism, Vomit, and Body shaming
Moderate: Addiction, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content
3.0
As a climber, I liked reading about behind the scenes of competitions, dirt-bagging, and so many climbing areas of the world that Brown visited. Brown’s story of her struggle behind closed doors is an important one to be told.
However, I felt dissatisfied with the writing style... I also so badly wanted to hear more about Brown’s healing and recovery but felt like it was incredibly rushed at the end. Ultimately, I commend her for her bravery and vulnerability in sharing her story.
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
- 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
4.0
The most impressive and heart-warming part of the book to me is the importance of platonic love and close friendship. The love the friends have for the protagonist is so dearly touching, and to me, more enjoyable than the romance aspect in the book.
My biggest critique and issue with the book was how many serious topics (see content warnings) are attempted to be covered in the book and seem too glossed over to me, especially the struggle with mental health and political struggles. Though perhaps this is also just a hard-hitting reality.
Overall, an impressive & quite beautifully-written first novel of Matthews with an overall theme of longing and a representation of so many characters that we don’t often read about.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual assault
Minor: Transphobia, Hate crime, and Homophobia
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The writing reflects what feels like a stream of consciousness of how people grow anxious over their own lives or impending climate change and all the worry that comes with it, which can be hard to follow at times.
I felt sad and anxious, towards the end of the book, continuously hoping something good or enlightening would happen to the narrator and her family members, and that made for a sprint to the finish.