eed8's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
theromancereadingredhead's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lindseywoho's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
coffeebreakwithrachel's review against another edition
4.0
Meredith hasn't left her home in 1214 days. She shops online, gets her groceries delivered, and works a remote job. Her cat, Fred, keeps her company and she spends her free time either reading, baking, or working on jigsaw puzzles. Meredith interacts online with an online social group and slowly starts becoming closer to one of the woman on the forum, Celeste.
Meredith only interacts physically with a select few people - the grocery delivery man, her best friend Sadie, Celeste, a 10-year-old neighbor (Jacob), and Tom, a member of an organization that comes to keep her company and makes sure she is doing okay. She has family near by but it is complicated.
Meredith was not always like this, but traumatic events in her life changed her completely. Now, even the thought of leaving her safe haven, her home, makes her anxiety sky rocket and even triggers panic attacks. We follow Meredith's journey through dealing with depression, trauma, and anxiety.
This book was beautiful. Meredith is a sweet and likable woman. The dual timeline allows us to really get to know all that she has been through and get a sense of the kind of person she is. I love how we progressively start seeing how Meredith allows new people to enter her life and open up to them. The side characters are just amazing and so supportive, which is exactly what someone with depression needs.
The pace of this novel is on the slower side but it is appreciated because anything else would've been too rushed. The author did an amazing job covering sensitive topics like mental health, sexual assault, the life-long affect's of verbal abuse and neglect on a child, and domestic violence. If you need a book that will touch your heart and have you cheering for a fictional characters growth and healing journey, pick this one up.
Thank you so much Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for this ARC.
Meredith only interacts physically with a select few people - the grocery delivery man, her best friend Sadie, Celeste, a 10-year-old neighbor (Jacob), and Tom, a member of an organization that comes to keep her company and makes sure she is doing okay. She has family near by but it is complicated.
Meredith was not always like this, but traumatic events in her life changed her completely. Now, even the thought of leaving her safe haven, her home, makes her anxiety sky rocket and even triggers panic attacks. We follow Meredith's journey through dealing with depression, trauma, and anxiety.
This book was beautiful. Meredith is a sweet and likable woman. The dual timeline allows us to really get to know all that she has been through and get a sense of the kind of person she is. I love how we progressively start seeing how Meredith allows new people to enter her life and open up to them. The side characters are just amazing and so supportive, which is exactly what someone with depression needs.
The pace of this novel is on the slower side but it is appreciated because anything else would've been too rushed. The author did an amazing job covering sensitive topics like mental health, sexual assault, the life-long affect's of verbal abuse and neglect on a child, and domestic violence. If you need a book that will touch your heart and have you cheering for a fictional characters growth and healing journey, pick this one up.
Thank you so much Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for this ARC.
lacywrites's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sleeson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
5.0
I happened to come across this novel in a small bookshop by chance. The title intrigued me and the blurb on the back of the book sold me. Meredith is a beautiful, messy, and courageous character. The relationship with her mother carried a such a similar tone of the one I have with my mother. The way Mer tries to navigate her emotions, situations, and her interaction with people, is heartbreaking yet determined. Absolutely relatable.
Claire Alexander wrote such a great novel. I want to share this book with others. Mild swearing. Mild sexual content.
Claire Alexander wrote such a great novel. I want to share this book with others. Mild swearing. Mild sexual content.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Rape
brealoadion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the very real and raw elements. I loved that the character was healing from something that so many others can relate to (not that I love that it happened to her, just that so many people wild find comfort in her character). I loved that her progress wasn’t linear or easy despite this being a fictional book. I also appreciated, from a counselor’s perspective, that she referenced a specific depression assessment as that tells me that the author knows her stuff. This was a tough read at times, but it home in a lot of ways. Definitely a keeper.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse
sapphicbookworm23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75