Reviews tagging 'Grief'

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

18 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

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

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

fabphryne's review

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent

gwenswoons's review

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

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

clareasday's review

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

lmoran46's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

kimveach's review

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

daniiiileighhhh's review

emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I really really enjoyed this book. I think I went into it expecting something light and fun, so I was a bit taken aback when things switched to a heavier topic. It didn't stop me from enjoying the book but

Jamie's cancer reveal really took me off guard and entirely changed the vibe of what I was wanting to read at the time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Grief

Minor: Death