Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey

8 reviews

cnannery19's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

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

bonchoix's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Eating disorder and Toxic friendship

Minor: Biphobia, Infidelity, and Stalking

lifeonasofa's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

3.5

Really Good, Actually 👍🏻 Review 

“One day and it will surprise you how soon this day will come, but one day you will wake up and feel good. It won’t last long, but then you’ll have another day where you barely remember this abjection, and another, and another, until that’s just your life. But for now, it will be hard. This is the part that’s hard.” - Monica Heisey 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars 

This was like a chaotic podcast or diary, I really recommend the audiobook. It was a great listen on the way to work. Despite having some pretty sad themes, surprisingly, this book made me feel light and happy. It was like I was having a chat with a friend, maybe even myself 🤷🏻‍♀️

Heads up, if divorce is big in your life right now, some of the harder parts might hit close. But personally, as a nearly 30 year old - it’s almost comforting to read about others not having their life together yano? 🙈

There’s really not much plot here, but some decent character development. A good look at relationships, growing up, finding yourself, friendships, careers and hobbies in your late 20s. Also, a big clap for highlighting the importance of therapy 👏🏻

Overall, although I’m finding it hard to think of anything negative to say, it’s not a book I think I’ll remember, it was more a vibe ☺️

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

basicbookstagrammer's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

challenging dark funny 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

A dark, humorous story about one woman's divorce and subsequent breakdown as she tries to figure out who she is without her husband. Maggie is at times frustrating and annoying, and very much an unreliable narrator. We spend a lot of the novel wishing she would have more confidence in herself as an individual, and that she would treat her friends better, but the ending provides an uplifting message about the importance of friendship and self-love. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Stalking

Minor: Abandonment

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-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

4.75

Why I Read It: I chose Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey as my add-on for my Book of the Month Club pick.

 

Review:

Really Good, Actually pulled me in from the first page with its wit, humor, relatability, and emotional depth, in a manner that reminded me somewhat of David Sedaris’s writing. As the book went on, I realized that it is so much more than a humorous account of millennial life: it is a book that has something to say, and it brilliantly explores mental illness, loneliness, feminism, and other issues without ever hitting the audience over the head with its message. In the hands of anyone but a master writer, this story could have easily been trite, obnoxious, cringeworthy, or shallow, but Really Good, Actually blew me away with the deftness and skill of Monica Heisey’s writing and storytelling. In particular,

I loved how the book mimics the gradual of Maggie’s mental and physical health by morphing from funny relatability into horrifying mental crisis so smoothly that the reader is left wondering: how did we get here?

 

The Run-Down: 

You will probably like Really Good, Actually if:

·      You can relate to the protagonist, either by virtue of demographic or life situation

·      You enjoy humorous writing with a serious side

·      You appreciate a story that realistically portrays mental health struggles

 

You might not like Really Good, Actually if:

·      You dislike unlikable or difficult protagonists

·      You hate reading about “first world problems”

 

 

 

 

 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Stalking

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

agirl_withabook's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

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

0.25

This is the worst book I’ve read in a long time I’m talking a decade. This book is trash and a waste of time 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Eating disorder and Stalking