Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

At First Spite by Olivia Dade

114 reviews

garbage_mcsmutly's review

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • 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

4.5

Did a decent job portraying the fmc living with depression, I felt it was realistic.
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smutfortwo's review

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emotional sad
  • 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

I absolutely adored this novel. Athena is someone who thrives on new and different challenges and when her world comes crashing down decides to stay put out of spite because she also can't afford to go anywhere else. She is so personable and lovely and builds this community around herself, but she also deals with some really heavy mental health issues. Matthew is the type of caregiver that gives everything to other people and completely depletes themselves. He’s also a bit uptight at the start but Athena starts pranking and trolling him (he doesn't get it at first) and when he finally gets it,  starts giving a little back. They really develop a teasing, playful friendship that becomes an actual friendship and I really love how their characters evolve and grow. 
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libellumartinae's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book probably contains some of the better dynamics I have ever read this entire year in a romance; it had an healthy communication between the two main characters and I do feel like the due point view did help us have a lot of insight on them and their thought, and although the mmc hadn't been the best at the beginning actually seeing his reasoning did help with not thinking him an utter tool and fool.

I still think that what I found this book lacking was a good procession of the plot, as the writing wasn't my favorite style and especially it left some dead periods in the book that had me a bit annoyed and bored to read through; it also fell into the trap of the 'all too cheesy and sappy' at times, which I think it's more a preference of mine than a true flaw of the book.

Overall, one of the best-plotted and represented romances I have read so far, this year and I'll definitely recommend it plus read other book of this author because she got me hooked.

(also bonus point: the fmc is curvy and the way that the author never made it central to the story - as it should be - was such a breath of fresh air, ugh!)
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hendrixpants's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.0

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jen_nej's review

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3.25

Some heavy topics mixed with some absolute nonsense (non-derogatory) - definitely check the content warnings first!
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kitwhelan's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this sweet story about empowering a woman with depression (and, let’s be real, undiagnosed ADHD). It was steamy and emotional in all the right places.

What I didn’t like was the third act relationship problems.
It was so disappointing that we had to hear Matthew give in to his brother AGAIN. It’s would’ve been nice if he could’ve done work on himself while Athena was working on her issues, so when the time inevitably came for Johnny to petulantly demand Athena back like a toy, Mathew could have stood up to him then & there. Matthew needs therapy just as much as Athena!


That being said, it was a nice portrayal of loving & living through depression. 
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willa_reads_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.25

this book contains one of the sweetest and best scenes i have ever read in a romance novel. (
the bathing scene
). i love olivia dade’s books bc her characters are real and they address their problems is realistic ways. this book almost made me cry. i was jealous lmao
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cierrareads's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.25

Lovely sweet romance! Loved the honest depiction of mental illness and recovery. These characters felt so well fleshed out and authentic.
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jennp28's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

More great curvy-girl MC vibes from Olivia Dade. This one gets intense for some bits in the middle there. Definitely check the content warnings if mental health is an issue for you. But thus story does a good job of weaving a love story around a crisis - there’s no magic fix, no loving someone enough to make it better, just acceptance and support. Some great romance tropes thrown in there and you have a pretty enjoyable (if emotional at times) read. 
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brookey8888's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this! I really appreciated the depression representation and thought it was handled well. Athena was such a wonderful character and just unapologetically herself. Matthew was the sweetest ever and was so cute. Their romance was so sweet as well. I liked the small town vibes and the friendships. This was also really funny had times, but had some more serious moments. 
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