Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

21 reviews

emilywemily6's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

This was a lighthearted, wholesome, easy read. I liked the premise and the general storyline, and fell in love with Hugo and Jack. This book felt very juvenile though, like just a couple changes would have made this a middle grade novel. It touched briefly on a lot of heavy topics but I would have loved more depth and length in those discussions. I didn’t particularly care for Lucy, she also felt immature and irresponsible in a lot of ways- like I was reading about an 18 year old and not a 25/26 year old. Overall this book was sweet but could have been a knockout if it was handled with different aims.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Medical content

likethepickle's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Abandonment

breezer's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

My heart 🥺

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Pedophilia

readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage and Medical content

Super minor language, child neglect/wounds from parents for multiple characters

kedalrymple's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

This was a delightful and easy read.  I couldn’t get over the Willy Wonka plot, and at times it felt like the author was just piling on trauma and grief for character backstories because there isn’t a lot to the plot. Even so it’s a gentle book that’s perfect for a beach or a rainy day. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Medical content

Minor: Miscarriage and Pedophilia

jashanac's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This was such a sweet, sad, uplifting, heart-warming book! 

I loved Lucy as a character and that first chapter with her and Christopher hanging out and talking got me teary-eyed right outta the gates. 

The only reason this isn't a solid total 5 star book for me is that there were a couple of things that I wish hadn't been as surface level as they were. I kind of understand why they were more surface level, but I still wish it had been different. 

The main focus of the book, however, was very well explored in my opinion. And that was the theme/message of childhood trauma and children simply needing to feel and be LOVED. To be provided with safety, consistency, healthy discipline, and loving attention. All of that was heart-breaking at times and then heart-warming all the other times. 

The things that I wish had been touched on a BIT more were just

the relationship with Sean that Lucy had. I didn't want to see the relationship, necessarily, but there were little hints at emotional manipulation and abuse there, that weren't really delved into much at all. I know thematic content wasn't the focus of the book so it's not that I wanted us to suddenly shift gears and have that be the focus, but just to get a slightly clearer picture of what went on there. I've been in an abusive relationship and as I said, I saw the hints... but there was nothing that really jumped out and spoke to me emotionally in all of that. And I just wish there had been. A line or two, ya know? And then Lucy and Angie's reunion... that was SO lovely, but it felt a bit quick that we got that one reunion, and then next thing we know, Angie is sick & about to die right about the same time that Lucy officially adopts Christopher. I just wish Angie had been around a bit longer... a year or something, to get some good memories between them.

 

All-in-all, a truly lovely story! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Abandonment

Minor: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

elise_is_writing's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Reading this book feels like every child's dream coming true all at once somehow, and I loved every second of it. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but for book lovers — so basically replace all the candy with books? Just read it.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

sydoodle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

This is one of my favorite books of all time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Abortion

bookcasey's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Grief and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Medical content, and Medical trauma

kitausu's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

This book had me crying by page 16 and kept me emotional throughout the entire thing. What an absolute lovely gut punch of a book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Suicide attempt