Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Set My Heart to Five

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson

7 reviews

napthenknit's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

2.5

I wanted very much to like this book. In fact, I liked it a lot for about 80% of the book. Then the next 15% the feeling waned a bit, but I figured the author knows so much about screenwriting that he would never leave us with a terrible cliche ending... but the longer I went on, the more tropes appeared, and then the last 3% of the book absolutely tanked for me. I was angry, and frustrated, and deeply upset. Not upset in a cathartic way, like a noble sacrifice was made for the greater good or there was a traumatic event that the main character could learn a lesson from. I found the ending genuinely upsetting and actually somewhat irresponsible for the author to portray as the joyful emotional climax of the story.

Other than the appalling ending, the book had funny little bits sprinkled throughout, and I could see this as sort of the "chipper younger brother" of Murderbot. However, do not come in with expectations for sci-fi worldbuilding (minor examples of irksome nonsense:

How does bitcoin exist if there is no internet? How are bots able to be tracked via "their barcode" if there's no internet? Why did every airplane fall out of the sky on the day of "the great crash"? Planes can still land without internet! If there are no planes how are characters still easily traveling between continents?

). You will get no worldbuilding. Instead, you will get references to people and brands that exist today which make this "near-future" story seem incredibly dated.

If you're looking for an easy read that you don't need to pay too much attention to (I listened to the audiobook sped up, which I never do), with lots of references to cinema and screenwriting (and the tropes therein), this could be a good choice. If you want a near-future exploration of human-bot interactions, maybe try the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers. If you want a snarky, sassy bot who doesn't understand people but can't get away from them, try the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.

Below is a brief summary of the ending for those who are concerned:

The main character kills himself in hopes that his death will make people realize that bots have feelings. He uses the same logic that many suicidal people use to explain why they want to commit suicide. He believes his suicide is a good thing that will benefit the world at large. There is no resolution afterwards; his suicide note is the end of the book.

Content Warnings

therewasanattempt's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this book, I think it is incredibly funny but also lovely, but the ending disappointed me so I knocked off a quarter star.

Content Warnings

bookishesawyer's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Content Warnings

kingb3000's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

Content Warnings

ryttu3k's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

sofiajearally's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow. That book was a journey, in the best sense of the word. I couldn't stop reading it and I cannot express how much I loved it. It made me feel all of the happy, sad, bittersweet feelings, and everything in between. When I finished it, I put the book down feeling like I had not only been entertained but also moved to the core by this story and the reflections it brings about. Thank you Simon Stephenson for giving us Jared, the most endearing main character I've encountered in a while. I will never forget him.

Content Warnings

prismatical's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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