Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

46 reviews

thatsssorachael's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent

amberinpieces's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Cursing and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kailiyahknight's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kappafrog's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

3.5

Vera was so funny! I loved reading the chapters from her perspective. Some of the other POV characters were less developed, especially Riki. The story was at its best in the Vera chapters. I really liked Emma and Julia too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

kristinj1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

This was a pleasant and engaging read! I liked the main character, Vera, even though I found her pushy in maybe situations. However, she was such an honest and complete character that I felt like like the other characters in the book seemed to feel - this is who she is and how she expresses her care for you just looks different than how you may want it to look. The only quibble I have is very small, and it is that I didn't really get the relationship she had with her son and how it tied up in the end with Tilly, her son, becoming part of "the gang." But maybe there's more that would be shared in future books in this series, if it becomes a series? I would be fine with this being a standalone book, however. It sounds like the author's initial series, "Dial A For Aunties," is a really interesting one, as well! Reading this book makes me interested in checking out her other books.

Coming back to this review to add, after rereading what I wrote, it strikes me that one of my favorite things about the book is what wasn't there! I don't think there were any white people, but it wasn't explicitly called out. There wasn't any racism experienced by anybody, and and maybe it's unrealistic of me, but I really liked being able to read a book about people with rich inner lives and honest experiences doing things together without being halted by other people's racist ideas and actions.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder

bearybooky's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infertility, Dementia, and Grief

tabea1409's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

abicaro17's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

So cute! I enjoyed this fun little murder mystery. It was funny and an interesting story about found family. I think the dynamic between Vera and the murder suspects was so funny and interesting. My issue with this book is how slow it is. The whole first quarter was so unbelievably boring. Like the murder wasn't even interesting enough to keep me engaged. Also the whole murder wasn't even that good. Like could have gone without that part. It was ok but not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

emilywemily6's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-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? Yes

4.0

This book was a fun and quick read, with quirky characters and some humor. I appreciated the wholesome, meaningful moments sprinkled throughout as well as this band of misfits grew individually in their self-esteem and confidence despite the sorry state in which they started at the beginning of the book. However, these characters didn’t really have depth, the mystery was lacking in plot and was predictable (considering there were zero clues) even though the reasoning behind the murder was inconsistent with the characterization throughout the book, and while Vera was funny, I have a hard time not being slightly bothered by silly, willful characters like her who refuse to follow the rules. Also, the two year old acted at least four years old for the majority of the book?? I have a three year old and Emma was adorable yet definitely not only two. Overall, a fun read, though I wouldn’t run to the bookstore to grab another Vera Wong book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism

lavaly_1's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment