Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Μείνε μαζί μου by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

23 reviews

thekrujue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

abiew1's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Mental illness

ohillchimhini's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Honestly a painful read. A testament to how people’s traumas and avoidance can lead to the undoing of a relationship and hurt the person you love most. Provides some insight into Yoruba culture at the same time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Mental illness and Violence

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thought this was just going to be a dual POV novel about an infertile couple (Akin & Yejide) and the second wife (Funmi) forced upon them in the tradition of polygamy. But the book’s synopsis barely touches on the real drama that unfolds in the rest of the story–lies, deception, infidelity, murder, death. Akin was THE most duplicitous character in the book. He reminds me of a quote: “Imagine the messiest person you know. It’s a man, isn’t it?” The plot twists were an A+.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Gun violence, Excrement, and Murder

kellyofcali's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

A very tough story - not for those who cannot deal with a series of crushing blows - but well written and I did feel it paints a picture of a certain place and experience. I don't know if I can say I enjoyed it, per se, given the heaviness, but I am glad I read it. I will say it is "pitched" mush differently than it reads - it's more about being in a marriage, relationships, and being a parent than about a second wife. I also found it ended a bit suddenly for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Abandonment

Minor: War

prairiek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent

georgie_mb's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

An easy 5 stars. 

Heartbreaking and moving, this had me routing for all the characters. The struggle of Yejide trying to conceive soon lifts back the curtain of the lies and deceit that makes up her household. There are so many twists and turns that had me gasping out loud, and if this hadn’t been part of a readathon I would have read this quicker than I did!

I also loved the settings, shifting from Nigeria in the 1980’s to the modern day, and discovering the cultural and historical references along the way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Excrement

katharina90's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A strong debut with lots to unpack, especially patriarchal and familial expectations around having kids and how damaging that is for couples struggling with infertility. 

I didn't find the characters very likable but my heart still broke for them. 

The audiobook is narrated well and helped transport me to Nigeria where the story takes place.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, and Grief

Minor: Sexual content

cerilouisereads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol

booktrovert's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, and Misogyny