meecespieces's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Animal death, and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
valsometimesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler
I do think that the relationship between Hugo and Wallace had some minor pacing issues. However, I also think this problem is inherent with the setting and purpose of this story, as Wallace is dead anyway. I think maybe this story would have also been more impactful with an ending of Wallace truly crossing through the white door.Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
permanme's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
hannahloveslit's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Self harm, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Car accident, Terminal illness, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
lizzyelrick's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts
theaceofpages's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
I was rather bored for the first third or so. Nothing really happened? It also annoyed me that Wallace, this supposedly cruel man, suddenly did a complete 180 in terms of personality. While big events can definitely change a person, this didn't exactly feel natural. Then we reach the more interesting part of the book. We have gotten to know the characters a bit better and we see how the tea house functions. And then we get to the end. Which, again, I did not like all that much. It felt a bit forced and heavy handed, but I can also tell why people would enjoy it.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, and Animal death
water_and_shade's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
and has a happy ending.Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Animal death
kathleenivy's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Abandonment, Child death, Sexual content, Confinement, Death of parent, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Suicide, Animal death, and Terminal illness
looking4thedr's review against another edition
- 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
This book had me laughing, crying and feeling everything in between. It has such amazing, charming and funny humour coupled with just fantastic emotional depth. The characters are also phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their progress and growth throughout the story.
Spoiler
I loved how the story makes fun of Wallace in the beginning, and continues to do so throughout the book. It humbles him very satisfactorily, to both us the readers as well as the other main characters.Wallace’s growing relationships with each of the other characters was comforting to watch as they grew into a family.
Also the entire second half of the story had balling my eyes out (in a good way), because of how the author wrote about grief and letting go and being thankful and about getting a certain amount of time with a person. It really struck an emotional cord with me. Moreover, the other reason for my tears was Wallace’s absolute tragic relationship with Hugo, because every time he was reminded they couldn’t touch I wanted to cry, because they loved each other so much and it was so unfair.
The ending was a bit of a shock, but I knew there would be a twist at the end. I could smell it. And what an absolutely marvellous twist it was. I couldn’t be happier. Although, I was still bittersweet (a theme I’m noticing) about Nelson’s end. I loved him so much, and his relationships with Hugo and Wallace, acting as the cool grandad / father figure. There’s more I probably want to say, but I’ll leave it here for now.
This book took me on a fantastic journey with characters that felt like real people, and was thoroughly easy to read (structurally, not emotionally, it’ll take a while to recover from this… in a good way), and everything that was introduced near the beginning of the story was resolved by its end. This is truly one of the most impactful books I’ve read in a while.
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, Suicide attempt, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide