Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

20 reviews

elisegerardi's review against another edition

2.5

Difficult to follow; the plot change was confusing; also very triggering as someone who worked Covid. I wish I had known the story content before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, and Death of parent

brookey8888's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This was good! I love Jodi so I knew I was going to enjoy this. She just writes such unique stories with real life things that make you think. There’s a twist in this that I didn’t see coming and I don’t know if I actually liked it or the ending to be honest. Diana actually frustrated me and she just felt kind of selfish the whole book. I appreciated Jodi adding Finn and him talking about Covid and how horrible it was. This was also a little triggering so trigger warning for self harm, which the topic was done well. I liked learning more about the island and art as well. I think of you enjoy her books you’ll enjoy this one, it is a little different from her other books because there’s not multiple perspectives and opinions which I’ve come to know her for, which isn’t a bad thing just different. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

mrsjburgin's review

funny reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book will mess you up and set you back again like Evermore by Taylor Swift. Do not plan anything after hour five. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

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

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

4.0

Writing this in 2024, it is so strange to have relived Covid-19 through this book. A nostalgia when reading about how life generally, the way we lived it - even if we did not contract the virus itself - and the varying attitudes around the virus around the world, the medical staff who saved us, the loved ones we lost - it was a definite struggle and very difficult to carry on at times (only because of Picoult being a favourite author did I persevere). As always, this one packed a punch. There is a description towards the end, describing life during covid and how it felt everyone was holding their breath - a desperate need for a gasp - which no one released which felt/feels very true in hindsight. I'm not sure if reading this 2-3 years ago would have changed the experience I had today (and in what sense that would be) but in a way, I am glad it has been catalogued by Picoult. It is so easy to forget the time the world shutdown, especially as we are creatures of nature, rushing back to the slog and race of working life, trains now running and borders are now open, the time you spend an hour working overtime is an hour lost spending time with loved ones -  the small print should always be highlighted - remember what matters. My love for JP continues to grow with each book I read. Please do check trigger warnings before picking this up. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol

stephmcoakley's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

abicaro17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

Diana is a complex and reflective character. Despite doing some choice things throughout the book, her reflection and inner turmoil creates a space to forgive some of her poor decisions. Given that this book basically reflects current and still changing events, it was well written and clearly well researched. It flows with facts and anecdotes from real life experiences. It was a beautiful (if not slightly triggering) book about a fictional person experiencing the trauma of current events. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

britnidudley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Dementia

Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

sarahflanders's review

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol