Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

14 reviews

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

I loved this just as much if not more than Me (Moth). I struggle with my mental health and felt this book so deeply, especially towards the end where I kept crying as I read. I needed this even with the author's note at the front stating that it could be triggering to the reader. Please read content/trigger warnings if you are someone who is/or has struggled with mental health. This can be a difficult and emotional read. 
The cover is stunning, the writing is beautiful, and I will definitely look out for whatever the author publishes next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Blood, Bullying, Child death, and Gaslighting

lbara33's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad

5.0

Beautifully written

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Mental illness

justsmileandnod's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs

tspice24's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racial slurs

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

“There is someone out there rooting for you. You are not alone, in any Forest. You there, … we are rooting, cheering for you to live & thrive.”

With this novel in verse, McBride has created a beautiful modern fairytale depicting the struggles of a life lived with grief and depression, and how powerful stories and friendship are in weathering/overcoming those struggles.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

xangemthelibrarian's review

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

I adore Whimsy and Faerry. I adore the author's narration in the audiobook. I loved the music between chapters. 

I think McBride does an excellent job of Illustrating grief, guilt, depression, suicidal thoughts, through the lens of a fairytale written in verse. It's absolutely beautiful. I also really loved the message that you are still a person if you're struggling with mental health. A brain is still a brain, even without the serotonin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racial slurs, Death, and Racism

theespressoedition's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Mental illness

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, and Body horror

multimindz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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 book is enchanting, whimsical and captivating in its verses. I really loved this book and how it captures depression and guilt in a intricate, artful way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

makeminemonsters's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

I'm a huge fan of Amber McBride's writing, but this one slightly missed the mark for me. I wish that the Fairy Tale element of the story hadn't been incorporated quite so literally, I think that part alienated me slightly from the emotional arc of the charcters. Still a really powerful rumination on depression and family trauma, but not one that spoke to my soul.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Self harm

seyfert's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

This is a wonderful novel, but was hard to read for two reasons: the prose and the subject matter.

First, it is written in verse. While perfect for this situation, if you don't read verse often, it might take a bit for your brain to adjust to reading it. This is something that can be overcome.

But for the second? So many trigger warnings. Many of us need to be in the right headspace to read this novel. Those of you who haven't ever experienced depression and dark thoughts, you'll be fine, but this touches so close to some very sensitive, hard subjects. It'd be hard to read when in the depression pit, and yet, it's exactly who the novel is written for - but once you're in a better mental state.

More than anything, it's very quotable. There's so many small tidbits to save to later. It's unique, and different, and understanding - and we need more of that.

(But it did introduce me to the poetry of Lucille Clifton, and I am excited for that). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Bullying

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Child death