Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

7 reviews

republicofben's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What an incredible, reflective book! This isn't just a romance novel, plus one could argue the romance isn't actually the main focus of Sara and Emilie's stories. This book had a much more serious, sad tone than I expected, particularly early on. Make sure you go into this book looking for this kind of story, but I'm the right mindset it's a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, and Abandonment

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Car accident

littki's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

caitlynva's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

A wonderful book where two women’s separate stories come together as one over a shared location. Each comes with their own struggles and complex issues that leads you to never take a “side” throughout the book. Beautifully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

antoniaodernein's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

Yerba Buena is a stunningly beautiful book.  It follows the story of two young women through the trauma of their lives.  It is a surprisingly hopeful book as they learn to deal with their pasts.  I recommend the audio version as the narration was excellent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

imstephtacular's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Classism

snowydaze's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I received a copy of the Audiobook of Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
    Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this novel. The dual perspective and riveting tale made for an interesting read. I will admit that it was very dark at times, so I recommend looking up the trigger warnings before starting it. However, I loved that it centered on twenty-something adults trying to find their way in the world, while dealing with their personal trauma. The main characters were fleshed out which helped with connecting to them. They each had dynamic character growth through the novel, with sections that really demonstrate just how human the characters are. Although the story starts when Sarah is 16, the story slowly reveals details that explain why things unfolded how they did, giving needed context to the earlier plot. 
    If you are looking for twenty-something sapphics trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives spanning multiple years, this book is for you!
    

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol