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!oliviapankiw'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
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
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
bekah_rose19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse
lei_readz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Violence, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
anasofiahr'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Trafficking, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Cursing, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
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
alex_loves_dinos's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Cursing
deilas_journal's review
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
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