Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

7 reviews

claireafterall's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Fatphobia, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

avidly_eclectic_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-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

3.0

I enjoyed all the books in the series, but Jingle Bell Mingle has less of the chaotic, fun energy if the first two. Despite liking both main characters and their relationship, I found the stakes to be too low and the pace too slow for what I was wanting and expecting given the rest of the series. Both characters had emotional baggage they were dealing with, but it didn't really feel like this was a sufficient impediment to then being together---I found myself thinking at times that they were each a bit immature. That said, the book does try to accomplish a lot, and I appreciated that Jingle Bell Mingle took on the extended impacts of grief. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Terminal illness and Car accident

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

This duo always knocks a book out of the park. Equally parts hilarious and touching, I loved this sexy little Christmas rom-com. Sunny and Isaac are fabulous characters — who can dislike a sad boy and a sassy girl?! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

kae_okie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death of parent

aahrobot's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

This one was my favorite of the Christmas Notch series which honestly surprised me. When I first met Sunny back in book one, she felt...too much. I'm naturally a low energy person, so she just felt like I wouldn't resonate with her character (I was a little disappointed that she was the FMC of book three).

I am beyond glad that I was proven wrong. Sunny isn't too much. She's a (sort of) misunderstood, mostly happy, secretly sad ball of fun. It took me a bit longer to get into this book (not because of the writing - just because of life), but when I did, I couldn't put it down. The love that grows naturally between Sunny and Isaac felt relatable, messy, and obsessive, but also very much like, 'whoa, wait, not this guy??' in the best way. 

Isaac was settled in his grief and content to be alone. Sadness and withdraw felt easier than dealing with life and I can resonate with that sentiment. I feel we get to see every emotion, not only with Sunny, but with Sad Boy Isaac. Melancholic, witty, and funny. 

Their love felt refreshing and honest. We saw the mess, we felt the pain, and we chose to love anyway (even when it is incurable and painful). Getting to know Sunny and Isaac was fun for me. I enjoyed the whole grumpy/sunshine theme because it wasn't cheesy or typical. It was a man dealing (or not dealing) with his grief and a woman who embodies sunshine not only in name, but in life (even if she doesn't always feel as happy as she looks). 

This was a great read. It was perfectly Christmas-y with a dash of fun mystery and love. It was light with a little dust of raw emotions, pure spice, and plenty of <i>Twilight</i> references. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness

spaghettireads's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Grief

Moderate: Cursing, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol