Reviews with content warning for Grief - Ghosts

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

12 reviews

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

this book came to me at perfect time in my life. dolly alderton writes some of the some realistic characters i’ve ever read. her characters are flawed and just so human. the themes of ghosts and self contentment are so well done. i love how the story actually revolves around the main character, rather than the main character AND the love interest. it involved the main characters whole life, her romantic relationships, friendships, family, and even her relationship with herself. i just adored this book and will read anything dolly alderton writes till the end of time <3

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itsheyfay's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

My god this wasn’t the book I planned to start 2023 with, but I’m glad it’s over with because I had a hard time enjoying this. Some of the more serious parts revolving her dad’s dementia and her grief of growing up were well-written, but everything else felt so pompous. I get it’s supposed to be satirical and making social commentary, but this wasn’t vibing for me. I was definitely not the I tended audience for this book. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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laurataylor's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

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raelong12's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

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ninaszewczyk's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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ashleycmms's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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booksandmo's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.0

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addie's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective 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

4.75

Content Warnings

marisa_thorne's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

ejb44's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

5.0

As much as I’d like to sit here and say that this is just another book by a millennial written for millennials and about them, I really cannot say that. Dolly Alderton centres the story on Nina Dean, a woman in her 30s living in London after finding a solid career in the food writing industry and buying a house. Despite the strong friendship she has with her ex, she cannot help but feel like the world is moving faster than she can handle – her oldest friend is consumed by her motherhood, her ex is in a serious relationship and her father is slowly slipping out from himself. This book navigates love, dating, technology, friendships and identity in the modern world, placing the heart of the story in the busy, hustle-driven London.

I really was worried starting this as romance and London based novels aren’t my thing – I think they too often fall into cliches and promote toxic relations, as well as overhype London when in reality its just overpriced, but I have to admire the warm and earthy feeling Alderton gave this book. I couldn’t put it down. Her attention to friendships and relationships have been so well thought out they are stunning to read.

My favourite aspect of the whole book was the focus she gave to the protagonist and her fathers’ relationship. The unnamed dementia the father is suffering from really tugged at my heart and was a unique contrast to the technology heavy world she had as the foundation. By comparing stalking on social media and creating online relationships to your father losing his memory and trying to stay as present with him as possible actually went hand-in-hand as I think it gives way to poignant conversations about presence, connection and never being able to remove someone completely. The running theme throughout of ghosting* paired with this theme of dementia was one I would have never thought of and thought Alderton did a smashing job of having the two themes interweave but not dominate.

Additionally, Alderton managed to create realistic friendships, ones that aren’t always completely time-consuming and all-encompassing. Her ever-changing relationship with an old friend centres on the conversations of motherhood, presenting the impact that has on those around the new mother. I thought these flowing conversations of parenthood, adulthood and peoples place in their lives just came together really well, and the author uses locations in the UK as benchmarks of these changes, for example, London and Surrey.

Also, nothing beats subtle British dry humour which I very much missed, so cheers to that.

Overall, this book has a beautiful air of nostalgia and warmth and love that I would compare to Out of Love by Hazel Hayes. This is sure to pull on heart strings and make you feel all fuzzy inside for things that aren’t always romantic love.

* a verb that refers to ending a romantic relationship by cutting off all contact and ignoring the former partner’s attempts to reach out - Valeriya Safronova, The New York Times (2015)

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