Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Stand-In by Lily Chu

34 reviews

fromthefoxhole's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

Gracie is stuck - personally, professionally, and financially. Then a paparazzo mistakes her for Chinese actress Wei Fangli and she gets fired from her job. When Fangli pulls up next to her offering a lot of money to act as her public double, Grace knows this is her break, to guarantee her mother a spot in a better care center and to give her some space while she finds a new job. 
Unfortunately, she's doing this with Sam Yao, Sexiest Man of the Year, who seems to take issue with her very presence. As she is posed, primped, and polished, Grace finds herself wrestling with both this role of a lifetime as well as her unwelcome feelings for Sam. 

I had a blast reading The Stand-In! Gracie is painfully similar to me, like down to the lists and insecurities, so it was particularly refreshing and heartwarming to see her overcome the same things I'm working on. Her chemistry with Sam was delicious, and her relationships with Fangli, Anjali, and her mother were just as expertly written. I only really knocked a star because the whole miscommunication trope is not my vibe, but outside of that it's hard to fault! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ngrace's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage

kyleethecatlady's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol

thereadinghammock's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

Picked this audiobook on a whim, because who doesn't love a free audiobook? I loved Phillipa Soo's performance narrating Gracie's over-the-top adventure as A-list Chinese actress Wei Fangli's body double while the actress performs in a Toronto stage play. Suffering from "exhaustion" Fangli feels she needs a break, and who better to make the required appearances in the city than this average Jane who just happens to look almost identical to her? What could go wrong?

Gracie is delightfully relatable. Just trying to get by, not feeling much direction in her life, and struggling to pull her life together, one failed task manager/to do list/organizer app at a time. Her skepticism is very warranted, but her need t prove Sam Yao wrong--that she CAN pull this off, is also something I can relate to as well. I appreciated the caregiver representation of Gracie's role in trying to care for her aging, and declining mother, suffering from dementia. That even during the height of her Fangli performance, she still makes time to go check in on her mother when she's having a bad day. I also thought the representation of mental health struggles, for both Fangli and Gracie was poignant and well handled. Everyone's journey is their own, but someone's bravery in sharing their story or path to progress can help inspire someone else to take the first steps.

I did NOT see the sisters plot twist coming AT ALL!! When I tell you I screeched in the car as Gracie started piecing the puzzle together. If I had been anywhere in public, people would have thought I was having a fit. I was also a little disappointed that the story was a closed door romance, as I am quite accustomed and look forward to the spice in my novels, however, I quite enjoyed the rest of the story, despite the glossing over of the sexy time between Gracie and Sam.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent

readwithde's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

calamitywindpetal's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Graphic: Cursing and Dementia

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders

mamawantsbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, and Abandonment

dez_blair's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Miscarriage

bookwisp's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.0

This was a fun, escapist read. It also touched on some more serious notes (mental health, sexual harassment, amongst others) which lent it, I thought, an emotional depth and maturity that’s sometimes lacking in romance novels. These more serious elements mean this novel won’t be for everyone – especially people who come to this book wanting a light-hearted celebrity romance – but I appreciated The Stand-in all the more for it. Phillipa Soo’s narration really enhanced the audiobook. She brought out a warmth and compassion in the characters I might have missed if I’d been reading by myself. For this reason, I’d recommend picking this up on Audible. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racism and Dementia

Minor: Miscarriage and Xenophobia

sarah_speaks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Dementia

Minor: Miscarriage and Alcohol