Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

88 reviews

lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one day. If I were still teaching high school, I would definitely use this as an ELA/Social Studies unit. Rich with information and a compelling story told beautifully through multiple perspectives. Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Racial slurs and Suicide

valareads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Abandonment

steenhalloween's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Outing, and Abandonment

jchant's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

What a novel—intriguing main characters and settings (Brooklyn and Puerto Rico) and a thoroughly engrossing plot. I was drawn in from the beginning, and pretty obsessed with it by the end. Definitely recommended.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Suicide

jannettlk's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide

Minor: Rape

elenareadz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

While this book delves into a complicated family, I was struck by the idea of how much I disagreed with the decisions the characters were making, but I still couldn’t put the book down. Both Olga and her brother Prieto try to find their identities on the backdrop of two activist parents who left them to figure out the world on their own. While simultaneously rooting for them to get better, you’re shaking your head at their decisions, but as more of the book goes on, you realize why they look at the world in the way they do. I genuinely learned so much about Puerto Rico’s history, culture, and overall activist groups and activities. 

And Dick was aptly named. As much as I hated him, getting his personal thoughts in the changing PoV was extremely enlightening. Here’s a rich white man who doesn’t necessarily hold hate, at his core is deep indifference and care to anyone who isn’t him. As hard as it was reading his chapters, it showed that at their core, rich white individuals truly do not see what is wrong with their actions, their thoughts, or their beliefs because they absolutely never have to think outside of themselves. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Death of parent

chamolilies's review against another edition

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Colonisation

mpatterson610's review against another edition

4.5

I really liked this book!! I was invested in the characters and their story lines, the characters were dynamic, there were some twists and turns that I didn’t expect, and I enjoyed the audiobook narration

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide and Abortion

humblej's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I couldn’t have gotten through this if not for the audiobook. Some of the writing was beautiful and it was nice to see how different generations interacted. Aunt Lola was my favorite. 

But it was difficult to connect with the characters. The disdain Olga had for everyone did not make her likable, and Pietro’s crisis was boring. Matteo is not 3D, and neither is Blanca. The

rape

was completely unnecessary. It added nothing to the story. She could have easily had the same

breakdown after failing her mission and being disregarded again by her mother

. The ending also brings into focus the selfishness of both leads. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Abortion

friendlypoet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Suicide