Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Mein Jahr mit Dir by Julia Whelan

9 reviews

shawnalemley's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent

katmystery's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.5

2.5 stars. The first and second halves of this book were at odds with each other- the first half described a shallow, no-strings-attached situationship between a pretentious and emotionally avoidant Oxford student and her pretentious and emotionally avoidant professor, while the second half described two committed partners facing terminal illness together. While there were some beautiful passages and messages in the second half, I had trouble believing that the characters from the beginning could possibly make the leap to become the characters in the second half, because they jumped from having barely any emotional intimacy to being willing to sacrifice everything for each other overnight. It just didn't make sense, and the characters weren't very likable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Toxic relationship and Car accident

jamie_rich's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief

gwenswoons's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

It’s beautiful — the writing and characters are lovely, and the English academic setting is vivid painted and lovingly rendered. It is definitely not my favorite type of romance novel: so unbelievably dark with the terminal diagnosis thread running throughout, HEA notwithstanding; so I am definitely NOT likely to try the comps of Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks that the blurb mentions. But if a more heart-wrenchy romance is for you it’s a good one! For me when I read romance I just truly want something that feels more constant in the hopefulness and okayness (even though I love contemporary romance that has complicated MCs, realistic backstories, et al!). Definitely glad I read this and will read other Julia Whelan — Thanks For Listening was one of my faves when I first was getting into the genre so I will totally look forward to her lighter stuff (and like, that one even has some major trauma in the female MC’s backstory, but it wasn’t so deep in the weeds depressing for as big a chunk as this one). Obviously the audio narration for both novels (by Whelan) is totally gorgeous and perfect!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ellenwm's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Julia Whelan is so dang talented!!! Her writing alternates between hilariously relatable to lyrical, profound philosophies on life. A beautiful story of love, grief and found family. Oxford is a beautifully rendered setting and sort of becomes its own character, or at least a muse. I also loved how each chapter started with a snippet of verse or prose from an author that relates to the contents and the characters’ academic pursuits. Best usage I’ve seen for that technique. Be on notice, this one isn’t really a rom com, it’s a story that brings in much more of life’s ups and downs. The result is dimensional characters whose lives are much more than window dressing for their romantic pursuits. Listening to the audiobook narrated by the author was a treat! (Just like with her excellent second novel “Thank you for listening.”)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Car accident and Classism

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book.  Julia Whelan is one of my favorite narrators, and I also like her writing.  The beginning of the book seemed like a typical romance, but it had so much more than that.  It was a delightful "listen."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying and Car accident

mels_reading_log's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.5

This book surprised me by switching halfway through from a comedy about an American’s adventures in Oxford to a romantic tragedy. I loved it, I loved the couple and the friends, I burst out laughing and their very literary conversations and cried through the confessions. I highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Sexual assault

stardust_heidi's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh. My heart. So good. I loved the romance a lot (grad student/professor relationship FYI) and how it developed, but I was not expecting the conflict twist and the beautiful, winding way that Ella realized the truth a out her goals and dreams. 

It’s a beautiful audiobook with the author narrating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Medical content

uppercasenoises's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

3.75

This story felt like it was marketed as a romance, but I do not think of it as being a romance book, and once I shifted my mindset I began to enjoy the book more. I was surprised by how deep the content was, and as someone who has experienced caring for someone with terminal cancer, I really appreciated the perspective of the author. The story was a quick read and so heartwarming, but prepare for some sad content. First-person POV.    

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Vomit, and Alcohol

No sexual content other than jokes.