joppiereading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Because the representation of OCD in this book is really, really good. It is confronting to see thought spirals portrayed so well. And it was great to see this without any blemish or polish. For my taste, however, too much of the book was about the continuing and worsening spirals, and the (sometimes a little obnoxious) existential wondering included. I guess that’s where this is a YA novel and I am no longer a teen, but it’s a little dramatic. It also made the (at most 50 pages-long) realizations and “recovery” too sudden, too rushed, and unfortunately the book lost some strength here. Yes, it is difficult to write how taking medication regularly will suddenly improve your mental health. But if 3/4ths of the book have been about the hell of the symptoms and the worries about taking meds, it would have been nice to have a bit more analysis. And while the end resonated with my own mental health experiences, it seems counterintuitive and is not often seen and that is exactly why I would have loved for the last 10 pages to last a bit longer.
In terms of plot or side characters, these were things that were clearly not as important and therefore not done with as much consideration. Compared with the richness and accuracy and nuance of the mental health aspects, the other characters and the plot simply did not get enough attention. Which is sad, because they seem important, and that’s why the book wasn’t the best at times.
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Body horror
roaze's review
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Chronic illness, Body horror, Medical content, and Self harm
paleghosty's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit, Body horror, and Death of parent
jenna_justi2004's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Vomit, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Drug use, and Eating disorder
rosegoes3's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I love John Green’s prose and his understanding of the human condition. Well done.
Daisy sucks. Some of the characters felt very flat and the use of setting was sometimes odd but the dialogue and internal conflict make up for it.
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Grief, Body horror, and Car accident
cstein's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Self harm, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Vomit
Minor: Bullying, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
isalovestheocean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Grief
Minor: Vomit
remcc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, and Body horror
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts