Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson

6 reviews

amberinpieces's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood

Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Rape, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Animal death, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Racism, and Vomit

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Medical content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Abortion, Rape, Stalking, Sexual content, and Drug abuse

Minor: Racial slurs, Murder, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Blood, Alcohol, Self harm, Police brutality, Mental illness, Genocide, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Vomit, Excrement, Drug use, Ableism, and Colonisation

Residential schools, stolen children, forced sterilization.

szucker6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion, Vomit, Biphobia, Chronic illness, and Infidelity

daniella_s's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Stalking, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Abortion and Addiction

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book took me longer to read than usual, and that's definitely not because of the writing. Ferguson dives into some really tough topics, topics that are not always easy to read. Lou is carrying a lot of emotional baggage, on top of trying to figure out her own identity. And trying to figure out her past and her future. It's a lot for a teenager to carry, and you feel all of these emotions throughout the book.

The side characters were also really well developed, providing complex relationships for Lou all around. One of the best, most complex relationships was hers with King. King was just so patient with her, which was something she wasn't necessarily used to. I loved the way their relationship evolved throughout the book, and it evolved with the way Lou was learning about herself throughout the book.

And the discussions about asexuality! That conversation Lou has with King is so important to have in teen books, and I'm so glad that it's there. There are some other reviews that talk about the maybe not-so-great portrayal of bisxuality in this book, so I would check those out as well because there are some valid points there.

I think this is a book I'll be thinking about for a while. It's a greta debut, and I can't wait to see what Ferguson does next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Hate crime

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

agathecadieux's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

ARC from Harper Collins Canada/HCC frenzy

I loved this book. Such a beautiful, even if hard, story and loving characters. I don't know how a book can possibly give more in terms of beauty, complexity and ice cream! I totally recommend. Look out for TW before reading.

J'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre. Une histoire vraiment magnifique, bien que difficile, et des personnages incroyables. Je ne sais pas comment un livre pourrait être mieux en termes de beauté, de complexité et de crème glacée. Je recommande totalement. Faites attention aux TW avant de lire.

Thanks to the publishers and author for this ARC !

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Colonisation, Racism, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Abortion, and Alcohol