Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Stand-In by Lily Chu

42 reviews

mariyah_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Racism

emfass'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

Philippa Soo is DELIGHTFUL as the narrator. Lily Chu's writing is so entertaining, fresh, invigorating, and just so so good. The dialogue sparkles.

This was a closed-door romance which I usually do not go in for (personal preference only, happy for those that like it/don't mind it!), but the writing was so freaking great.

I had some issues with parts of the plot

(how one-dimensional the sexually harassing boss was, the mother leaving her daughter in another country and never ever being in touch, I mean UGH)

, but overall really enjoyed this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent

tea_rea's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, and Pregnancy

daniellekat's review against another edition

lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

It has been a long time since I last stayed up all night reading, but this was worth it. I was in desperate need of something light and fluffy and this did the trick. The writing is simple but smooth, and the plot was realistic. The author did a good job of creating believable motivations for the characters. The ending was meh, the

long lost sister

plot line was a little weak and silly for me. I loved the way she wrote about Toronto though, enough specifics that had me and I'm sure other locals smiling, but non-local readers won't be drowning in details. Overall, I found it to be little on the long side but a solid PG romance.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Cancer and Alcohol

lara_r's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Dementia, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Stalking and Alcohol

sdupont's review against another edition

emotional slow-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

3.75

This was a solid book. I feel like the romance took the back burner for most of the story. This slow burn didn’t really take flight until maybe 2/3 of the way in.The pacing for this book was quite slow, it would have benefitted from a faster pace and slightly shorter length. Often I found myself thinking I’ve read so much of this book but not much has happened. I liked Gracie, Sam, and Fangli. They were all characters you could relate to in some way. This book focuses a lot on Gracie’s internal thoughts and growth which leads to less of a romance feel and more of a contemporary fiction feel. I would still recommend this book though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

cozyduck's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism and Abandonment

maiareadss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

This is officially my number ONE Romantic Comedy EVER!! I could not put it down! It is the perfect mix of romance, humor, and serious topics. I wish it were a movie a movie so I could watch forever!

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Miscarriage

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! 

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Content Warnings

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

dearbookboyfriend's review

emotional funny 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

I loved the hate banter in this enemies to lovers romance. While this had a slow start, it really picked up and then I couldn't put it down.
The way the main characters build an understanding of each other despite leading drastically different lives is beautiful.
Periodically veers into chick-lit territory. If you're looking for start-to-finish romance, then I would save this for later. I actually found her relationship with the female celebrity more moving than her romance with the mmc. Not saying it's not a lovely romance, just that the only part that had me teary-eyed did not involve the fmc/mmc together.
Forced proximity, biracial fmc and author, single pov, mental health rep, closed door.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Dementia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual harassment