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rei_reads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
carriepond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“Sometimes I think I have lived my life as an observer, saving all the best bits for her by looking very carefully and trying to remember the details she would have liked.”
Pearl was longlisted for the Booker, and I can see why. It is a beautiful novel-- the writing is magnificent and it is a truly compelling exploration of a child's grief for their parent. I loved this novel to the very last page.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
Moderate: Eating disorder and Death of parent
kodi_rae's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
laurenlou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent
thesecretbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child death
nialiversuch'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
notthatcosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I would give this 5* but the quality dipped so much in chapters 11-13 that it almost ruined the book for me. I guess I just find bratty, angsty teenagers insufferable in any and every form and context.
Overall, one of the most impactful novels I've read in recent memory, and to know that the story was very much informed by Sian Hughes' own experiences and childhood makes it even more special.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
_vampiresquid's review against another edition
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
e11en's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Toxic relationship
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders