bookgal1990's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Dysphoria, Grief, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexual violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
This book is very triggering so be warned!arlis's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Blood, and Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Toxic relationship
texas_reznikoff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, and Blood
prachidayal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
- Long read (10 hours)
- Factually inaccurate about hospitals, has terrible and unrealistic dialogue, and too much italicization (I just don't like her writing style.) The book got really boring after Blue returned. The trauma wore the character due to poor character development.
- I liked the writing from Louisa.
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment
123erty456's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
salt_y's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Self harm, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness
lauryn_04's review
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Injury/injury detail, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Death, Medical content, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Self harm, Suicide, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Violence, and Bullying
bunny_bee_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Vomit, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Physical abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
bookswithlauren's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were things I liked about this book and things I did not like. Firstly, as much as I wouldn't wish the experience on anyone, I am glad the author is writing from personal experience. There is nothing worse that false representation, stereotypes and under researching when is comes to mental health representation within literature. The personal experience of the author made the incredibly important representation and experiences explored in the book real and accurate. However, despite the authors real life experience I don't think the topic was handled with the delicate nature it should have been. I do not think we should sugar coat mental health by any means but I also think the graphic descriptions of self harm throughout this book were unnecessary and extremely triggering. There were many points during the book when I question why the particular content I was reading was included. Paragraphs detailing different types of self harm, different mechanisms of injury and different implements to use in order to self harm were just completely unnecessary to raise awareness. Some ailments of the book read as a how to and I cannot comprehend why the author would include such things know how damaging it could be for those reading.
I also think there were too many main plotlines happening within the book that were never fully explored and it took hold of the main focus rather than it being on the main characters journey and experience during her recovery. The toxic relationship between the 17 year old main character and a 27 year old side character added nothing to the plotline other than yet another trauma and experience of manipulation and exploitation for our main character. Focusing and really exploring just a couple of trauma's rather than all of them could really have improved the plotline and kept the focus on raising awareness about self harm, mental health and recovery.
There are not many books out there that approach the topic of self harm and that needs to change. I appreciate the representation and the awareness. However, I would be hesitant to recommend this book to anyone (especially anyone vulnerable or with personal experience with self harm) due to how graphic and triggering it is.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This a highly triggering book for any bad feelings, grief, depression, anxiety, body shame, sexual violence, abuse, emotional abuse, violence, substance abuse, it’s just hard like that.
It is also a testament to suffering and fighting to fix yourself, at least not to give up.
It is also a nod to those who self harm, you are not alone, you can do it and stop, and be better.
I like the way the narrative flows along with Charlie’s progress, from the bowels of suicide attempt and major grief and trauma, to believing she can overcome it, then to knowing she’s failing and being unable to stop, until realising it is all part of life, and some do have less luck on the coin toss that is family and circumstances.
In the end it is a hopeful story. A story that truly shines light into dark places.
A hard ride but worth it. Enveloping writing that just flows inside.
Definitely will read more from the author.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Medical content, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
PTSD