Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

21 reviews

blackveilbeccy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

This was attempting to be really clever in using and subverting tropes, but it fell flat for me. This whole book felt disjointed due to the rapid tone and style changes. There were also so many characters and subplots that it felt chaotic. I found the FMC horrendously self-pitying and I know it’s silly, but I struggled with the author’s choice of first name for her. Almost none of the characters were likeable as they all came away looking self-absorbed. There were times I felt like DNF but the premise was interesting enough that I pushed through. The texting and epistolary elements were the most enjoyable and felt the most real. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

siebensommer's review against another edition

emotional

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.25

wouldn’t have finished the book if i hadn’t listened to it 🤨

let regret come along for the ride. a passenger, not the driver. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Dementia

Moderate: Racism and Alcohol

l1brarygirl's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Cute & funny romance written by one of my favorite audiobook narrators (and also narrated by her, duh). Made me laugh out loud at parts but it also had some serious parts. Also loved the author's note at the end. I couldn't put it down! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Minor: Addiction

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexual content, Dementia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

didireadthat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Romance is a relatively new genre for me and sometimes I can't get over how cheesy some of the lines and smut scenes are that it usually breaks me out of the story and I will visibly roll my eyes. That feeling was exploited in the best way because the characters played off the cliches in their banter and it made it so much more funny to me while listening. Julia Whalen also did a great job with the accents and voice changes in a way it didn't feel overly fake and again playing off the fake voice as a key part of one of the characters added to the humor of the story. Swanee has her flaws (duh, part of the story) but I loved Nick all the way around. The part about Doug? the ex-boyfriend was a little underdeveloped and think could have been left out. 

The "twist" is easy to spot but it made me so excited to see everything lead up to it and comes in the middle of the book so there is plenty of time for more drama and apologies. The overall plot was strong and though the romance was heavy, there were other subplots that talked about disabilities, familial relationships, friendships and other trials of life that keep the book thoroughly engaging. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Blood, and Alcohol

carteres's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism and Dysphoria

sarahamuller1's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.0

Am I low-key in love with Julia Whelan’s Irishman’s voice? Absolutely. 

I’m so glad I listened to this book instead of just read it. The dialogue is it’s strongest aspect with excellent humor, realistic conversations/arguments, and banter. Lots of banter. 

I enjoyed these characters and this unique story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Death and Racism

imstephtacular's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

I liked that this book was funny, full of tropes, and tackled some tough topics. 

That said, I felt like it tried to do too much. 400 pages was too long for my liking and the meta-ness didn’t quite hit for me. I liked that it got into industry details. That was fascinating! But the “is this romance or is it women’s fiction” ended up feeling muddled for me overall 

I liked the characters and the mixed media elements (texts, emails) but this one wasn’t a knockout for me personally

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

rai_ishardtoplease's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

3.5

“Somehow, far beyond her ability to comprehend exactly how, something seemingly so much less became so much more.”
- This book, in a nutshell.

As a romantically cynical woman with very visible scarring, estranged parents, and a complicated relationship with her emotionally unavailable father… this felt like a personal attack.

For most people, though, I’d say that TYFL has the same energy as the cosmic love child of a poet’s overwritten diary and a self-deprecating inside joke.

So, like, Emily Henry meets V.E. Schwab. Or maybe Nicholas Sparks meets Taylor Jenkins Reid. Hell, throw them all into a blender and call it a literary smoothie.

And I’ll be damned if this doesn’t get optioned and become a box office hit. This is precisely the kind of story that Hollywood goes feral over. The Romcom Movie Renaissance would finally hit its stride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness and Death

Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

meredithamadee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism