Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

123 reviews

lindsmann's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Adelaide follows a 20-something American living in London as she navigates life and relationships.
^This is essentially all I knew about this book before going into it. Which, those that have read will know that isn't even the half of it. 

This book gave me maaaajor It Ends With Us vibes, and I don't mean that as a compliment. Adelaide is a perpetual people-pleasing doormat of a person and I found it difficult to continue reading at times. Not because the subject matter itself was difficult but because Adelaide as a character was extremely frustrating. 

SpoilerI found that the level of devotion and adoration Adelaide had for Rory relative to 1) the affection he ever showed for her and 2) how deep their relationship ever felt was so off balance. I never felt that Rory promised much to her, and it felt like she kept clinging onto the idea of their relationship simply because he was on paper (and especially looks wise) who she saw herself with. 

And that just doesn't cut it for me. It made it feel wholly unbelievable that she would continue to put herself through all of Rory's shitty behavior. And maybe I'm naive or biased in this realm, but that was my perception. 

I also feel like there was not one single chapter where she wasn't either crying or throwing up or both. And I'm just very not into the weak/ needs-a-man-to-swoop-in-and-solve-her-problems FMC trope. 

Some might argue that's not what happens here, but Adelaide works on herself for like......5 pages before she finds Bubs on the apps again. So I think this qualifies.

All of the above being said, I did think the book was technically well written and it kept me engaged the whole time, so that's where the 3.5 rating is coming from.

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samepaige's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

“Adelaide—the girl who felt everything—had to remind herself that it was, in fact, okay to feel. That it was okay to fill her lungs with air, her tank with fuel, her brain with the chemicals it needed. It was okay to go to hell and back, to carry every ounce of light and darkness inside of her. It was okay to love herself fiercely, a little selfishly, and with intention. It was all okay.”

this is not a romance novel. this is a coming-of-age, self-discovery novel that will break your heart. I truly could not put it down. I loved this the same way I loved Ghost by Dolly Alderton - fiercely. 

I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still find myself thinking about Adelaide. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book, like an outsider looking in, “please see Rory for who he is!!”. I would have loved to see more of Adelaide in the aftermath. I want to see what she accomplishes and where she goes.

Adelaide is an incredible debut novel and I can’t wait to read Wheeler’s next book. Her writing style is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed this one, even if it made me cry a lot. 

There’s many content warnings and potiental triggers, so please look at those before reading this. 

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maurapartridge's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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idekjessica's review

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dark emotional hopeful reflective 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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booklvrkat's review

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dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Because if we knew, if we honestly knew the price of love was grief, we'd never do it.”

We all know a Rory, the selfish boyfriend that pictures too prominently in this story. But more than that, we all know Adelaide, whether it’s us, or someone close to us, we know her. When I saw the cover, I was intrigued. When I read a couple of reviews, I knew I needed to read it. As a romance reader mostly, this book sucked me in, and I’ve had several days to sit and ponder it. Adelaide loves with her whole self, she doesn’t hold back, and that could be her undoing for the way she is taken advantage of. I must put it out there, this is NOT a love story, put it out of your mind. It’s a story of a woman that is faced with tragedy, ill-treatment, and left in the rain to cry her heart out. It is about breaking, and it is about healing after a long grieving period. When life kicks you in the butt, you learn that there are friends to help you pick up the pieces, and you don’t always have to do it on your own. The novel is a journey of self-discovery, anguish, love, and most of all learning to love again.

“You have to love freely, and unselfishly, and with intention... It's the only way.”

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murve's review

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

TEAM ADELAIDE!! 

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e_simas's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this book. was incredible. i teared up multiple times and i finished it in just over a day. i was enveloped with the first 50 pages and then flew through it the next time i had a free min. It really touches  on complex relationships and i felt myself relating a little too much for my own comfort
Spoiler to know what happens with Rory Later down the line. and his terrible hypocrisy thats birthed from Adelaide’s deep and wholee extendive caring is painful
This book was a 5-star read and its complex and beautiful in all the right ways. 

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aryexo's review against another edition

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

4.0


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sgreising's review against another edition

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

4.5

  • Really a very good read. I think everyone who’s ever put someone else’s needs before their own can relate to Adelaide while simultaneously hating Rory Hughes 


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frenandjen's review

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
  • 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

4.75


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