Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan

17 reviews

cassie7e's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.0

One star for competent writing, one star for prominent queer rep. If this had been marketed as YA instead of adult, I might have had different expectations. 

Maybe I'm just too old for immature teen drama, but I found all the characters offputting and unlikeable. They are terrible to each other and all think they are in the right, or are responsible for all the wrong in the world. I don't think it's unrealistic, especially in how teen girl performers are exploited, but made it very hard for me to root for any of them or really care how their storylines played out.

I also found the "mystery" of Cassidy's depression confusing. It was neither surprising to me that a character in her position would struggle with mental health for years, nor was there ever a conclusive explanation found for her struggles to justify everyone's bizarre interest/confusion about it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic friendship, Grief, Sexism, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Drug abuse, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Biphobia, Infidelity, and Stalking

harleysmiller's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

My first 5 start read of 2022! I absolutely loved this book. I’m a sucker for books about musical groups and this is just so good. It hits a lot of important topics and does so very well. I liked how there were nods to real events/fashion/etc. of the early 2000s. It kept me hooked from the beginning and I definitely recommend !

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Cancer

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Animal death

uwbadgergirl's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide

strickortreat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Body shaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, and Homophobia

Minor: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Rape

enyaceleste's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad fast-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

4.0

This is the story of the rise and fall of a teen pop star and oh boy was it sad. Told through multiple narrative perspectives and two timelines it read like a murder mystery and felt incredibly fast-paced. I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse cast of flawed characters and the exploration of themes including sexuality, eating disorders and the dark side of fame.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Cancer, Body shaming, Racism, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Stalking, and Rape

Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship

maggz's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Terminal illness, Stalking, Pedophilia, Cancer, and Abortion

ladykelsier's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Eating disorder, Racism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Cancer

Minor: Sexual violence, Drug use, and Animal death