Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

9 reviews

katherina_lei's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.0

I liked this book eventually. It was good enough that I kept listening, even though I didn't love Maggie and her very self-destructive behaviors. I like the ending a lot. I thought the writing and narrating was good. I just don't know if this is my type of book. I was worried the whole time that the depictions of Maggie's behaviors, and her eating disorder specifically, were going to get more graphic, and I knew that if it got much worse I was not going to be able to finish the book. All together, these things made this a solidly 3 star read. I didn't love it, but I didn't want to stop reading it, and in the end, I liked Maggie, the characters, and the story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

Minor: Drug use

alilucia's review against another edition

funny 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Body shaming

Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Minor: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Toxic friendship

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

aseel_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a relatively good slice of life, post divorce life. I think the downward spiral was super realistic and it didn't end with a perfect happy ever after, because that wasn't realistic. I do wish her PhD played a bigger role, like it is unrealistic to be like "oh she just goes to work and then comes home and be sad" like work as a PhD is not easy. I also found the pacing/split of the novel not great, like it took so long to get anywhere and then changes started happening super quick in the last hour of the audiobook. Another annoying thing

amy was portrayed as one thing, being a drunk and a hater, but then does a 180 out of the blue and we have no clue as to how or when she made the changes so that was an annoying illogical part

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

bookishlittleme's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

So funny and so relatable! Heisey expertly portrays what it feels like to lose oneself in that dark pit at the end of the relationship before finding your way out and learning to be okay again. Although the protagonist, Maggie, is not always likeable she is incredibly human. The only way I can describe the humour is "real." This book had me laughing out loud! Wish I annotated this one for sure since I had so many thoughts while reading :) - Plus the sticky flags would go great with the excellent cover 🫶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

Divorce is the central catalyst for the protagonists story and arc.

kitaface's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

Laugh out loud funny, a millennial Bridget Jones having a complete break down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Drug use and Mental illness

kabrown28's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism and Body shaming

Minor: Biphobia and Cultural appropriation

issyd23's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

“You’ll like dating, everyone eats ass now”. Maggie’s like a more unhinged version of Fleabag going through a divorce 4🍔

NB can someone please make this into a limited series staring Barbie Ferreira?

This is full of zingers! My favourites include:
- I walked passed him into the living room. It was mid century modern like everyone’s else’s. 
- You’ve caught me at a good time. I’ve been reading a lot of Ester Perel. 
- She pulled her pashmina (her pashmina!) around herself.

TLDR really REALLY good, actually 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

prairieraven's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism