Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden

21 reviews

aahrobot's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

First of all, let me just say that some of the dialogue was CRINGE. I will gladly share some of my favorite/cringe lines:

"My mother has the diabetes." - If you listen to the audiobook, this is said in such a monotone voice, and I could not stop laughing. 
"She's stacked!" - This was in reference to a pregnant woman's breast, said by another woman. 
"Why would she dye her hair black?!" - Girl, you're kidding me, right? Why do you care? Let people dye their hair!

Secondly, there was a small continuity error. In one chapter, the husband whistles because he's happy or whatever. A few chapters later, he is whistling again and the FMC is all, "My husband NEVER whistles!!" Like, come on. Anyway, this was mostly enjoyable. I always listen to these when I'm at work and I caught myself walking around going, 'No way!' to some of the twists. I even was cheering for the main character - I don't think I have ever actually liked any of the main characters in Freida's books (so far). 

I am still not a fan of the whole, 'I am so average, but my husband is so HOT AND IRRESITIBLE!' trope that every single book seems to have. Can we just let woman be stunning without the constant downplay either on themselves or hating other women for how they look? Crazy behavior. 

I will say, I am super grateful for one thing in this book:

The husband doesn't suck!

As per usual, I thought I had the twist figured out, and I wasn't totally wrong, but I wasn't totally right either. Again, I found myself shocked by some of the twists and reveals which was nice; I feel like I haven't been surprised in a while. This book was good and I finished it in just a matter of days. I would put it in my top 5 favorite Freida books for now. I still have about 9-10 more to read! On to the next one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

mobooks_'s review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, and Mental illness

kitten_nuisance's review

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Thought it would go a little further with twists.  The less expected one is reused in another Freida McFadden book!  I think more could have been done with the concept, but it was an easy read that kept me entertained.

Heavy caution for anyone in the adoption trifecta, TTC, or with heavily stigmatized mental health conditions.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Mental illness, Stalking, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage

kn711's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

alis143's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

michellebub's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No

2.25

Every time I read an old Freida McFadden book I think to myself „Wow this is the worst book of hers that I’ve read“ but every time I am proven wrong, this is the worst. It put me in a reading slump, and for that I do not forgive 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Mental illness and Gaslighting

meaghankmc's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I love books with a lot of plot twists and this one delivered! Some things were predictable and others weren’t. I found it easy to root for Abby and Sam.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, and Infidelity

syreetam's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use

vk124's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.75

This book was a bit like The Goose Girl meets Single White Female. It was a bit slow-paced for me. I did complete the book because I wanted to see how convoluted the scheming got.

I also could never quite get how complacent Abby was as she was being edged out in subtle ways, or how Sam was quite so oblivious. I felt sad for Denise and the strained relationship that could have been better. I didn't love the ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Violence, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder

chickelope's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Blood, and Medical content