Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Book Club by C.J. Cooper

4 reviews

kateea7536's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a gripping book and I was able to read it really quickly. It was tense and I always wanted to read on. Alice, one of the main characters, was extremely creepy and I think the writing was effective to make me feel so creeped out by her. However, I felt that there was so much coincidence in the book and things always worked out for Alice, it was often very unbelievable. Some of the detail in the writing felt unnecessary and cliched. I don’t think a lot of the writing style was for me but it was an ‘easy read’ and the plot did have twists and turns and I liked the exploration of the side characters’ trauma and in some cases wrongdoing. But the fact the characters were meant to be a group of friends wasn’t that believable because they didn’t seem to talk to each other about the glaringly obvious issues that were happening. I would’ve liked to have seen the friend group be tighter knit and more believable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail

jeunefillereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

4.0

The beginning is a bit slow, but once it gets it's footing it's a great book to sink your teeth into! The mysteries are so well presented you can guess then without the author having to spell them out, but they are explained within the different perspectives. I think the ending was good. Overall an enjoyable read. If you like getting a look into other people's messy secrets definitely a book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Stalking, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury

alicebennett's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this. I really enjoyed the character development throughout, they all felt like real people in an everyday setting. 

However, it’s the writing of the plot that lets it down. There are constant changes in perspective, but no indication of who it is you just have to read and half-guess it. I found this jarring in a book that should be gripping and fast-paced. 

The ending was greatly disappointing, predictable and rushed. I wanted to see more of Alice’s story drawn out and developed. I also think the side characters/ other members of the book club came off very badly and nothing in their relationships was rectified. It was almost as if the author had forgotten about them as the book drew to a close. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Stalking, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

ella_1203's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury