Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

51 reviews

streberkatze's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was one of my favorite books this year so far. The author brilliantly weaves together the story of her protagonists, told from different perspectives, with Puerto Rican history and U. S. politics. This is also a great read for readers who enjoy a strong sense of place, especially in New York City. Brooklyn really comes alive in this book. And the audiobook version, recorded by three amazing Puerto Rican voice actors, makes the story even more immersive and contributes to the already amazing character development. The resolution

felt a little too neat for my taste

, but this was such a minor issue at the very end of a great read, it didn't really matter to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment

Moderate: Rape and Colonisation

Minor: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy

bloo_0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

sha's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Abortion, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

jchant's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

What a novel—intriguing main characters and settings (Brooklyn and Puerto Rico) and a thoroughly engrossing plot. I was drawn in from the beginning, and pretty obsessed with it by the end. Definitely recommended.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Suicide

madeline_p4's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, and Rape

starlily's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, and Abortion

klingcooper's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Colonisation

drbookishbiologist's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use

emilyjmasters's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense

5.0

extremely good. I learned a lot about PR, and the cast of characters was so real to me. excellent writing through and through

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Rape

Moderate: Drug use

khaleesimod93's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

"You must remember, mijo, even people who were once your sails can become your anchors."

This book is as emotionally charged as they come. I love Olga and her brother, Prieto. They are both such complex characters who are so alike and yet so different. Olga is the one I truly connected with. She is so successful, well they both are, yet there is something missing. It shows that you can have everything and still not be fully satisfied. There were so many themes tackled in the story. It made for a complex and sometimes overwhelming reading experience. Regardless of the complexities, I truly enjoyed the book. I felt how angry and hurt and frustrated Olga was. Pietro pulled at the heart strings just as much. Their struggles as people jumped off the page. But not only their individual struggles, but the racism and stereotypes perpetrated by society because of their culture. It hurt, but it's so accurate. My only issue with the book was the back and forth between time frames and characters. It made it really hard to keep up with the story. But, I did get used to it. I just wish it hadn't been such a struggle. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use and Suicide

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault