The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
maeverose's review against another edition
The main character, Gilda, is very mentally I’ll. Some parts of this book are really intense, and if you struggle with death ocd, anxiety, hypochondria, suicidal thoughts or alcoholism I’d be cautious about reading this. Gilda’s panic attacks are described in detail, and they’re very frequent. She also has a full on mental breakdown by the end of the book that is also described in detail and drawn out for a while. It isn’t explicitly stated at any point but she is clearly autistic/audhd coded, and it seems as if she is undiagnosed in the story, she questions why she is the way she is, and definitely doesn’t seem to be aware that she’s autistic. It was difficult reading her experiences, clearly seeing that she’s autistic but with her not knowing and struggling. It was relatable at times, but in an upsetting way more than a nice way. For me, at least. I can see how some readers would enjoy this and feel seen in the main character.
Funnily, like Gilda I feel other people’s emotions pretty strongly, so reading a book like this was probably a bad idea for me. I have similar anxiety and this was triggering for me. I nearly dnfed this several times because of it, and tbh I probably should’ve as it ended up just putting me in a bad mood. I kept reading because I really enjoyed the first half, it was still intense but in a more lighthearted dark humor kind of way (it reminded me of fleabag), but the second half is much more depressing and upsetting.
This book is a very accurate representation of ocd, anxiety, undiagnosed autism and mental illness. If you want that and can handle it, I’d recommend it, just please check content warnings first.
Graphic: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Eating disorder, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Murder, Ableism, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Abandonment, Cannibalism, Excrement, Mass/school shootings, and Sexual assault
Graphic: Body dysmorphia, hypochondria, death ocd, intrusive thoughts, dissociation Moderate: medical malpractice (kind of) Minor: metaphorical cannibalismvvabecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Sexism, Grief, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Stalking, Dementia, Mental illness, Cancer, Car accident, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
sunnidazee_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Grief, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Vomit, Self harm, and Murder
Minor: Car accident
tea_kettle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Car accident, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Mental illness
Minor: Bullying, Self harm, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Homophobia, Stalking, and Eating disorder
froggydanny's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
rieviolet's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
I appreciated the hard-hitting representation of mental illness, just make sure to check the content warnings and look after your own mental well-being. Â
I also quite liked the humour and, as a raised-Catholic-turned-atheist, I cackled many times whenever Gilda pondered over bizarre Catholic rituals.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Blood, Suicide, Murder, Grief, Car accident, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Bullying, Outing, Animal death, Body horror, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Self harm, Stalking, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Dysphoria, and Drug abuse
amanda_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
**major trigger warnings for depression and anxiety so please look at them before reading. This is a book that you need to be in the right headspace for.
Graphic: Death, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Self harm
anielabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Vomit, Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Addiction
Minor: Religious bigotry, Dementia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Blood, Self harm, Sexism, Cancer, Misogyny, Stalking, and Animal death
navayiota's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
kers_tin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Lesbophobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Stalking, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis