dlsmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
szel_zsofi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Car accident, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Addiction, Physical abuse, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Grief, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Infertility
solsina206's review against another edition
- 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
Read it for school
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Addiction and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
froggybex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Terminal illness, Cancer, Violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Gun violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Addiction
clemrain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Found it hard to sympathize with Eddie. I normally like characters that can be hard to root for, but Eddie didn’t fit the bill. The more people he met in heaven to explain his life, the more irritated I got with Eddie. His life goes against many of my own morals and maybe that’s why. I tried to keep an open mind and meet the books end to understand the character better but it didn’t happen.
The way this book makes you see the “good side” of abusive and shitty people is absolutely gross. What was especially out of touch was Ruby telling Eddie to forgive his father when she is a total stranger to him and his situation . His father was abusive and self righteous. This is one of the morals that contradict mine. Forgiveness isn’t necessary to move on.
Spoiler
Also Eddie’s mom was in the middle of being sexually assaulted and somehow his father ended up being the victim but also a good guy because he forgave the person who was doing it??The writing was simple. Nothing spectacular about it. It is interesting to read a piece of fiction by someone who primarily works in non-fiction. It really reads in the writing style. I do think this story could’ve been shorter and I’m glad it wasn’t longer.
Ending
Spoiler
was predictable and exactly what I thought it’d be. Does that make it bad? No. But it’s adds to the lack of memorability of this book.I really wanted to like this book and I had expectations going into it. Maybe that contributed to my disappointment in it.
Side note: I also did not appreciate how the little child was described at the end of the book and it turned my mood sour for it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Addiction, Child death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Car accident, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Sexual violence, Body horror, Cancer, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Terminal illness
noesols's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and War