Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

13 reviews

katmystery's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed this- but- for a book that is supposed to be cozy and lighthearted, this got very dark and sad in its second half, with one extremely disturbing scene. The first half of the book was just as heartwarming and cozy as the first book, and I adored it, then things took a drastic turn, and I was frankly left more shaken than comforted by the book as a whole. Trigger warning:

a young child self-harming, forced institutionalization, and... I'm not sure the mental health rep is respectful? The child in question is villainized?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

booksnug's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Pregnancy

Minor: Mental illness

mrsfishreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Absolutely love this series.  This is a slow, cozy read that you he's the heart.  This whole series has been fantastic.  I read them in the wrong order, but I can tell you that I loved them, and I cried finishing the series!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

laheath's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

This seemed reminiscent of The Sound of Music to me (minus the singing and Nazis)--an uninvolved father, mother out of the picture, misbehaving kids, and a string of nannies who didn't last very long. Of course, things became much more complicated as the story continued, addressing a few very serious and complex issues, such as single parents and blended families, bullying, childhood mental illness, and selective mutism. All were portrayed realistically, with a variety of emotions dependent on the character, but the ending still managed to be happy. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy

Minor: Self harm and Grief

saj_81's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

I enjoyed this more than I expected! It is well-written with lively characters and a plot that moves at a pleasant pace. I like that the main characters have other stuff happening in their lives besides each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Mental illness

midwichtriffid's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

adorkabledorcas's review

dark emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Drug abuse

dreamerfreak's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content and Suicide attempt

cassie7e's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

The storyline is enjoyable overall and has some sweet moments. I was however, struck by how entirely neurotypical the book, or at least the main character, is, emphasizing manners and niceties over authenticity and challenging fake politeness (despite the children pointing it out), and disciplining through threats. 

Starts right off the bat with a nonspeaking child, and references to Einstein, and no mention of autism anywhere in the book. Just "social anxiety disorder" and "it's just one of those things", with reward-based ABA and possible medication suggested as treatments first, and then the mother being told to talk less and stop interpreting her kid's needs without him speaking, as if speaking is the be-all-end-all of successful communication. The book thankfully doesn't take any of these recommendations seriously, and the main character is kindhearted and usually gentle and respectful despite her complete lack of understanding of her child.

The audiobook narrator made Zoe sound on the verge of hysterics almost every time she called for Hari, which got really annoying when there weren't any textual clues something could be wrong. However, she made the kids sound "just absolutely adorable!"

In the end the book was sweet.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization

ellaandcoffee's review

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy