shyleek'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
5.0
This book deals with some deep concepts including loss, grief, healing, and family trauma just to name a few. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster but it is worth the read.
There are some big triggers including murder and gun violence.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Self harm, and Emotional abuse
laura_berger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
katergirl12's review
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Emotional abuse
cc_shelflove's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book seemed to ramble on and on and on. The chapters were way too long. Hell, the last one was 47 pages! The religious and spiritual aspects of Lucas’s letters bored me a bit, but this may partially be my own fault for choosing to go into most of my reads completely blind. 😇 While the story was thought-provoking at times, the language was not. It honestly took me way too long to get through these 240 pages, because I simply was not engaged. Reviews for this one will probably be all over the board.
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Self harm
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
oceanwriter'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
3.5
After a tragic incident in town, Lucas is grieving the death of his wife and battling the survivor's guilt that goes along with it. The way he copes is by writing a series of letters to his former analyst. These letters go unreplied, but he persists. In the meantime, he befriends Eli, a young man Lucas finds camping in his yard. They forge a friendship and begin a project together that further helps the healing process.
I enjoyed the structure of the book as well as the psychology involved. It was also an interesting interpretation of angels and how so often when we lose someone close to us there's a part of them that we hang on to. It manifests itself in different ways for each of us. As for the story itself, something was lacking for me. I didn't remain invested all the way through. Still, I enjoyed it perhaps more than I thought I would.
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Child abuse
readingwithtrey'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? It's complicated
5.0
Written as an epistolary novel, we get an in depth view of Lucas’s mental state through letters he is writing to his former psychoanalyst following the tragedy. Although it’s not actually said, the reader can get the sense from very early on that, understandably, Lucas is not okay. The letters take the reader through so many emotions. They are utterly heartbreaking, but they also hold a sense of hope and challenge the reader to think deeply about their understanding of grief, healing, love, and resilience.
It’s difficult to put my feelings regarding this book into words that I know would do this book justice. This is not one to go into lightly but is one that is very, very important. I am going to be completely honest with you, it took me a few hours to read the last 25% of the book because it is incredibly devastating (might want to have tissues close by). You will certainly want to be mentally prepared going into this one, but I do highly recommend it.
5/5 Stars
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
elook's review
4.0
Graphic: Self harm and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
Minor: Child abuse