Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

17 reviews

ariana3's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.25

I thought this book was okay. I like the overall general premise and storyline, but some parts felt rushed whereas others felt too drawn out. The "romance" part was definitely a tease, but there were times I thought it was going to go in the direction of a full romance novel and I'm very glad it didn't. I did really love the ending, though it felt too Disney-movie-happy-ending (if that's your thing!). I also wish there was at least one or two more chapters at the end! But it was a good place to end and you can use your imagination for the future.
Plot summary:

The main character, Natalie, has 2 older siblings Lynn and Jake. Back when she was in high school and Lynn and Jake were in college, she called the cops on them because she was being spiteful yet they had drugs and were high in the house. Jake's friend ended up dying and Lynn and Jake went to jail for several years. After their mother dies, her will states in order to keep their beautiful Santa Cruz mansion, all 3 of them must reunite within a specific time period or the house is donated to the local historical society. Natalie hasn't talked to her siblings since they went to prison over 15 years before. She thinks her siblings hate her for what she did. But Natalie's personal life is falling apart, so she drives cross-country from Boston to Santa Cruz to find her siblings. She stays at the house with her cat, and eventually Lynn shows up with her tween son. Lynn has run away from her abusive husband to the house to start a new life. She's still bitter and holding a grudge against Natalie. Their brother Jake is missing. Natalie enlists the help of his lab-mate, who she slowly falls in love with. They eventually find Jake, who has been hiding out from everyone, including work, at their late mom's boyfriend's house. Turns out Jake isn't angry at either of them and wants them all to live together as a family unit in the house. Natalie quits her job in Boston, leaves her toxic relationship, and starts a dream program and job doing scientific illustration in Santa Cruz. I like how it was a nice ending, but it felt like everything tied up too perfectly and everyone got what they wanted. The book did not seem like that would happen, but everything worked out for everyone in the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death and Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, and Alcohol

nicolaparty's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

lycheetini's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

wolfebh's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mcluster1's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

Solid familial reconciliation. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between the siblings and their ultimate reconciliation. I also appreciated that the author gave us the details of what went wrong between Natalie, Lynne, and Jake early on. This gave us a lot of time to digest and understand the disconnect. I think ultimately the story wasn’t hard enough on the siblings mother. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Violence

emmareidy's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Drug use

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

marieeveparentroy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

megs_bok's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Drug abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

skyba3's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Blood, and Vomit