Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud

30 reviews

katewhite77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

As Beautiful As It Is Heartbreaking.

One lunchtime whilst working in a school, Miss Betty sidles up to Mr Chetan to become her lodger, and a beautiful dacades long begins. They 
try did try being lovers for a time, and whilst that didn't work out too well, the friendship only deepened. 

Chetan helps raise Solo, Miss Betty's son, for many years. That is until, one day, Solo over hears something that completely changes the course of their lives. This novel spans continents, and the decades just melt into each other. We go from baking hot Trinidadian summers to freezing cold winters in New York. Love  conquers all undoubtedly, but the question remains at what  cost.

Not an easy read by any means, trigger warnings everywhere, but I have no doubt that this will trouble my top books of the year list and has further cemented my  love of Caribbean literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Alcohol

booksandbabble's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury

anisha_02's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5

 

There are three main characters in this story. Initially, they come together but eventually become separated, and reunite later on. The story follows their individual lives and occasionally shows one of the other characters in cameos. The story focuses on a single mother, her introverted son, and a third person who becomes an integral part of their family and their daily lives. The passage of time is quick throughout the narrative. It's a unique combination, and the story itself is also unique, exploring themes of love, expectations, hurt, hate, reunion, life challenges, and societal norms. It starts with a heartwarming tone but ends up with the reader's heart shattered.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and Murder

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

5.0

Oh, Love After Love 🥹 What a superb story! 

There is a definite undercurrent of sadness in everyone’s stories; Betty’s, Mr. Chetan’s, Solo’s… The content warnings will be included for each of them below.

But this book also highlights the beauties of love in its many different forms; not just romantic, but familial and in friendship too ❤️ I was so touched by Betty and Mr. Chetan’s decades-long friendship. When you find a gem of a friend like that, keep them close 🙋🏻‍♀️ 

I couldn’t rewrite a story but if I could, I WOULD HAVE PROTECTED MR. CHETAN AT ALL COSTS AND NEVER LET HIM DIE 😫

Truly a phenomenal set of stories, written in patois. I need more books like this in my life 🥰 5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you 🏳️‍🌈✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

absolute_bookery's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

Gah this was sad! I've never read any books from Trinidad but I really enjoyed it. It was quite long and felt like it could have been shorter but a good book that touched on some sad topics.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

pixiefran's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder

pkc's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

This was a really unique take on a “kitchen sink” style family drama, predominantly set in Trinidad. Even though the country didn’t form an obvious backbone of the story, it did factor in as a character in itself, lending a colour and culture that elevated the tension and levity all at once. Please be warned that this book is so dark in places, but like any good family unit, the darkness is accompanied and sometimes even complemented by truth and the occasional wry observation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

merrynthomas's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol

This book deals heavily with family trauma brought on by domestic abuse, particularly the mother/child relationship

hannahrhian's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol

lyndseygemm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt