Scan barcode
blackandwhitejacket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“this book was just so heartbreaking and wonderful to me.” — a sunny book nook, Youtube.
it’s 1:02 AM and i’m in tears. this was so… full. it represented mental illness and family and loss and religion and trauma—both personal and generational—in such a rich and quietly compelling way.
the writing style was captivating and to-the-point, often funny (i laughed many times) and other times painstakingly direct (i.e. anxiety- and/or nausea-inducing). the structure was also really exciting and refreshing; i was never bored or felt like the story was dragging.
the book also may or may not have contributed to a moderate depressive episode spanning the past two days of isolation… but it matched the gloominess of the weather so i have no reservations.
incredible; i’m blown away; can’t believe i got to consume this for free.
i urge all who enjoy the (overly glamorised) topic of women navigating mental illness—i.e. the Fleabag watchers, My Year of Rest and Relaxation readers and Mitski listeners—to read this book.
some favourite quotes that i marked while listening on Libby (there would be more had I a physical copy):
“I bet that baby would be absolutely baffled to hear why she’s enduring this. Imagine someone forced you to wear a miniature wedding gown, dunked you underwater in front of an audience of your loved ones, and then explained that their rationale for doing this was so that when you die, your spirit would fly to the clouds. If I were this baby, my first words would be “Fuck. Off.”
“It’s ironic that a belief system theoretically created to make me feel safe and meaningful takes away one of the few things that makes me feel like my life is worth living at all[: impermanence, eventually dying].”
“Eleanor keeps texting me. I don’t feel comfortable responding at work because I’m worried that Jeff and the Catholics will sense that i’m doing something gay.”
“Endogynoys opioids are a part of our reward system. It’s what makes having a crush feel enjoyable, rather than just crushing.”
“It’s comforting to imagine that everyone who is dead is just waiting for us in the next room.”
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness, Blood, and Vomit
greatu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Stalking
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
em_bouche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident
aliciarosales's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia
courtsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking