Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

34 reviews

pookiee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

reading this feels like a form of self-harm

there is something deep in there about self-sabotage, it made me cry, but i hate how her only personality is her sickness. and nothing about it was funny, even though it tried to be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Fatphobia and Miscarriage

hannavaistila's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death of parent

sarahreadsromance's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is heartbreaking… and also beautiful and also messy and also so very real.  It makes me sad, it makes me angry, but it also makes me hopeful and nostalgic, the original Greek.

I don’t know who said this book was funny.  I would not describe it as that.  It has humorous moments for sure, but on the whole this is not an “extremely funny” book. 

I loved it and I think you should read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Alcohol

ashleyjean6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• 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

5.0

This is a difficult read that is also potentially extremely triggering. It is about a fictitious mental illness, but it's effects are very real and raw. If that sounds like it would not make for 5 star fiction, it does. Although bleak it is not without hope and it is absolutely gorgeously written! The audiobook is also beautifully narrated. Highly recommend! Definitely a top book this year, maybe period. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Classism

sardinetin's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use

racheljiyoungshin's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

nclausel25's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

crazytourists_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I can't believe I ended up liking this book. 
I did struggle at first, with the narration style, I found it kind of juvenile and obnoxious, and that feeling lasted for quite a while; for about one-third of the book. Every few pages I was contemplating about stopping reading. And then it kind of fell into place and the narration made sense, and I started to be submerged in the story. Up until the diagnosis paragraph where the actual diagnosis is withheld and dashes are put in ita name. I don't get it. It's the kind of thing that perpetuates the shame and stigma, not naming what we fear. The specifics weren't needed; if the structure of the story was a bit different, I think the author could get away with all this mess. And then comes the end, which I quite liked, and the characters are still in pain but have grown, and it's not overly happy, which is a good thing. It is rather real. 
So, an experience with its ups and downs, but on the positive side in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

books4em's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

This book is all vibes, no plot. Not going to lie, was not a fan of this book at all. I related to the feelings of relief and understanding when she got her diagnosis, but that was about it. It’s a hot mess and the side characters are all over the place as well. They often claim to be doing their best to help the MC, but that “best” is a rally low bar. I also thought it should’ve ended at the journal scene. The ending is a good ending for this book, but I still don’t think the last 30ish pages were necessary. Won’t be rereading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Self harm

helenajoy_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion and Death of parent