Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Μείνε μαζί μου by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

13 reviews

nadiamasood's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-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

4.0

This book took me through every emotion—hope, admiration, anger, heartbreak, frustration, and even disgust. Adébáyọ̀’s writing completely pulled me in, and I just couldn’t put it down. I had both the ebook and audiobook from the library and when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it. I finished the book in 2 days!

This book gives a great glimpse into Nigeria’s culture, traditions, and family dynamics—some of which are actually pretty similar to my own society. It made it easy for me to relate to what the characters were going through.

Stay with Me starts as a love story but quickly dives into darker themes like toxic masculinity, cultural pressures, and the intense struggles around motherhood. Infertility and its mental toll is the central theme, which could be triggering for some readers.

Yejide is a complex character who faces immense pressure to have children in a society that blames infertility solely on women and defines womanhood by motherhood.

As the story unfolds, her husband's secrets, the stress of infertility, and societal pressure push Yejide to her breaking point. She grapples with both imagined and real pregnancies, shifting from the isolation of being childless to the trauma of loss, ultimately shutting down emotionally and leaving Akin behind. Adébáyọ̀’s portrayal of Nigerian culture stands out, showing how tradition often gaslights women into silence and sacrifices.

Set against Nigeria’s political chaos from the 1980s to 2008, I think the novel beautifully contrasts public unrest with the characters' private struggles.

The storytelling is smooth and engaging. I like how Adébáyọ̀ sort of skips long descriptions and just dives right into the drama and dialogue, making the book feel sharp and to the point.

There are a few reasons why I couldn't give this book 5 stars.

First, it's hard to believe that a university-educated grown woman who has access to a library to look for sickle cell disease is completely clueless about basic human reproductive physiology and is unable to suspect and look up impotence. Second, has NO ONE ever heard of artificial insemination? Not even the brilliant doctors treating Akin's condition? I am totally disgusted by the solution he came up with!!! And finally, how easily did Akin get away from both murder and attempted murder? He deserved punishment! I felt the ending was unfair to Yijide.

This book really drew me in and shook me. I get that people are willing to sacrifice a lot to have a child—and that’s totally their right—but crossing certain lines just feels wrong. Some mistakes come with a cost that can make us lose ourselves and our ability to love and care as human beings.

This book is great for readers who enjoy thought-provoking literary fiction, especially those interested in Nigerian culture. It may resonate with anyone navigating issues of fertility and identity, but be aware that it includes sensitive topics like infertility, terminal illness, death, and mental health, which might be triggering for some.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent

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

pranjuli's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Grief

themildone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Terminal illness

vedpears's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-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

Loved this book. The story sucked me in right away and made me tear up and/or cry a few times. As a mother, there were certain plot points that struck very deeply. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings

reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

4.5

Oh my poor, poor heart. It is heavy and sad and feeling many feels. That’s it. That’s the review. 

Ok jk, that’s not the whole review but that’s the gist. 

I really enjoyed the dual timelines happening here. The structure was similar to THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN where we’re in the character’s present day every few chapters and learning about the past for the majority of the book. 

In this case, we got to see Yejide and Amin’s marriage from both of their perspectives. Watching them go from young and in love, knowing from the first chapter that they don’t wind up together, pulled me right in. They had so much stacked against them with infertility and the cultural family pressure to have children. (Big trigger warning there.)

In a short 260 pages, this story hits time and time again with heartbreaking twists that had me pausing to soak in what I had just read. 

AND THAT ENDING. I can’t express myself properly without spoilers. It just………..it was good but it hurt. 

This is the kind of book that you have to be in the right mindset for. That said, if you’re ready to wind up emotionally ragged, it is absolutely a must-read. I loved it. I am sad. The end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

bookish_houseplant's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• 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

This is probably the most emotionally difficult book I have ever read. I just finished it and I'm shaking and sobbing. After part one as someone who has always wanted children but doesn't have any yet, I had to put it down. I picked it back up today and read the rest all at once. It's like a train crash; terrible to watch but you can't look away. Don't read this if you want something light-hearted. However I rate books on how much they make me feel something and this book is beautifully written and absolutely tore my heart out. If you're up for that, I highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and War

If you enjoyed Violet Evergarden I think you would appreciate this and vice versa

n_li_re's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Mental illness, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol

lilyarmer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and Grief

amberinbookland's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War