Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

70 reviews

steeped_in_books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

ixris's review against another edition

hopeful fast-paced

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

3.0

A very easy read, which would not be a bad thing except that the writer will repeat herself sometimes on the same page, sometimes in the next sentence. The amount of things I had to stop and reread because surely the redundancy was a misread on my part (it wasn't) was more than I care to admit and made the reading unpleasant at times. 

The plot focuses on a woman who (to me, a person who spent nine years as a childcare aide) is the least believable depiction of a struggling poverty class worker let alone a childcare worker and how she is enamored with the MPDG of an old man who invites her to return to his Defunctland vibe private island and falling in love with his grumpy live in illustrator (Sorry she's not sunshine tho).

A lot of this was really trite to me but maybe I'm not the right audience. It was a coherent plot and structurally sound, and I quite liked the flirting scenes - our FMC and her MLI really had a good vibe overall. 

You could spot this plot from space though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Third act trauma dump

girl being raped by her dad tries to swim to the island and drowns is the source of Jack's grief

ericj32's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This novel taps into the special kind of excitement that many lonely kids feel about their favorite books as an escape to a place where they can imagine their wishes coming true.  The structure of the plot and overall sense of childlike wonder feels very similar to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, except it revolves around an eccentric and mysterious author of beloved children’s books.  The first few chapters felt disjointed and jumped around quite a bit, introducing a lot of different characters, but once I met the young orphaned Christopher, I was invested.  There are some holes in the plot and not all of the details really feel very realistic but if you suspend a little disbelief, it’s an enjoyable ride.  I felt like the book set reasonable expectations that it would be a loosely realistic near-fantasy, in the vein of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, so I didn’t get bogged down in the questionable ethics and legality of Lucy’s relationship with Christopher when she was promising to adopt him while still being a teacher’s aide at his school.  The relationship between Christopher and Lucy made me tear up more than once.  I was less invested in the love story and the subplot with Lucy’s ex.  The subplot about Lucy’s own sister and parents was interesting, but felt a little underdeveloped.  I also wish that there had been a few more puzzles and riddles in the book, as I enjoyed solving those that were included.  I definitely felt a rush of anticipation as the contest began, and the contest wasn’t quite as involved as fun as I’d hoped it would be.  But this was overall a very engaging read with so much heart that I can’t be too critical.  There is more wisdom than you’d expect in this kind of book about what it takes to find happiness and be brave and what things are worth fighting for.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Drug abuse

clothildev's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

If you had a traumatic childhood and picked up reading as a coping mechanism, you are the target audience for this book lol

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment

hilivingston7's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It felt like a warm hug. Willy wonka meets Peter pan with a therapist. Love the nuanced approach to dreams and encouraging children’s spirits, while not promising life is fair. The letters from Christopher to the mastermind had me 😭

I think the critique of Lucy’s relationship with Christopher is fair,  but also think the difference of one person who really cares can make in a child’s life. I also didn’t like that her love interest meets her when she’s underage.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

chris_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Medical content, and Death of parent

margotfoster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I laughed. I cried. I want to read it again. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Chronic illness

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

kjazz20's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This book was a beautiful story of hope and hardship and how those two tug at each other so often. It is about wishes and bravery. But above all else, this is a story about love in its purest form. Love is the thread that connects each character and storyline. Love is actually the prevailing protagonist of “The Wishing Game.” 

The real, life lessons of this story were wrapped in a playful and whimsical tale whose world was a joy to step into. It is artfully and beautifully written, telling the story of a teacher trying to save a child and a writer trying to save the world. Its whimsy reminded me a little of “The House by the Cerulean Sea.” 

Sometimes books -like people- find us when we need them. I’m glad this book found me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault

apandabearcub's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

mhilt17's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship