emeryboyd's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.0
For a short audiobook it felt really slow to start. I didn’t get drawn in until chapter 14 (of 18). It had a good and emotional ending but was pretty easy to predict
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
brynstonehouse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
As a therapist myself, this book was initially a struggle to read. Especially as it reminded me of some of my previous highly codependent clients. But the last 50ish pages really turn it around and redeemed that aspect of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
shyleek's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
I have to admit that the writing style threw me for a loop and I didn't know how I was going to feel about it. The more I read though, the more I wanted to read.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Self harm, and Emotional abuse
cassidy's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
</3 this book was so sad -- also I like that we were fully taken along with Lucas and could be with him in his journey. and although the trope of "healing isn't linear" is cheesy the way that it was portrayed wasn't. also loved the theme of that we all have monsters inside of us (as opposed to labeling people as either good or bad). made me want to learn more about Jungian analysis.
Also, I kind of liked the portrayal of the politician character not as being villainous but as not being what the town needed to heal. I'm not trying to be all "thoughts and prayers" and obviously gun control is needed, but that does seem separate from a healing process and i like the perspective of "yes we need gun control, but i can't put my pain on a pedestal for political gain" idk I guess survivors of any sort are often expected to be political voices that call for change/ that is the only acceptable option presented to deal with trauma and that feels a little unfair to them. so anyways i liked the perspective that this book took in respect to that.
Also, I kind of liked the portrayal of the politician character not as being villainous but as not being what the town needed to heal. I'm not trying to be all "thoughts and prayers" and obviously gun control is needed, but that does seem separate from a healing process and i like the perspective of "yes we need gun control, but i can't put my pain on a pedestal for political gain" idk I guess survivors of any sort are often expected to be political voices that call for change/ that is the only acceptable option presented to deal with trauma and that feels a little unfair to them. so anyways i liked the perspective that this book took in respect to that.
Spoiler
I'm not sure how I feel about the conclusion that the idea that Darcy was with him as an angel was fully him dissociating or a hallucination -- but I guess still this is the perspective of Lucas as he is an unreliable narrator and I guess I'm okay with finding my own truth somewhere in betweenSpoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Death, and Mass/school shootings
cc_shelflove's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
I feel so bad giving this book three stars because the subject matter is so important and heartbreaking, but i just don’t think this author is for me. After Lucas and his Jungian analyst’s wives were killed in the tragic Majestic Theater shooting, he receives a letter that Karl is no longer practicing. How can he continue healing without his analyst? Enter Eli, the younger brother of the Majestic Theater shooter. Lucas and Eli have both lost their way. Can they lean on each other in an attempt to move forward?
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Self harm
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
dbookerj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Big content warnings for mass shooting, spouse death, physical violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
mollyjordan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Murder
readingwithtrey's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
After an act of gun violence upends his small town and takes the life of his wife, Lucas Goodgame is struggling to put the pieces back together. Those in the town of Majestic, PA tell Lucas that he’s a hero, though he’s unable to see it. It takes the development of an unlikely relationship that puts in motion something that will change the grief and healing process not only for Lucas, but also for everyone in the town.
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
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
Content Warnings
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
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