Reviews with content warning for Drug use - A Very Typical Family

Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

50 reviews

emoshtay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-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

4.75

I wish there had been some sort of flashback chapter to what the mother was thinking regarding her children, but I guess that also wasn’t really the point of the book since the focus was on the siblings relationship.

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cndios's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

The writing was perfectly in the middle - neither too flowery nor plain. Room for embellishment but also not simple.

If you know Santa Cruz, you will know this family or you were in this family. The story is a familiar one to locals, even though this is a work of fiction. It navigated the situation well- it wasn’t too heavy or really ~too~ central to when we’re joining the story. This is a story of the years after. There wasn’t a conversation about the systemic nature of the problem, which was a pro for me but some people might miss it. Trigger warnings but spoilers are hidden in the spoiler redaction but there if you want to see.

Referring to drug use and abuse- heroin specifically. TW for a detailed/graphic overdose scene. TW for domestic assault - fairly graphic.

I love how the main character took control of her life and even when she was being avoidant, it wasn’t overly drawn out.

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kathlynnsell's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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jenniee_reads's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was very predictable and like many other books I have read but I enjoyed it just the same. It was slow at parts and Natalie frustrated me at times but it was a quick, light read, which is just what I needed.

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hannah_the_bookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-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

5.0

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ariana3's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I thought this book was okay. I like the overall general premise and storyline, but some parts felt rushed whereas others felt too drawn out. The "romance" part was definitely a tease, but there were times I thought it was going to go in the direction of a full romance novel and I'm very glad it didn't. I did really love the ending, though it felt too Disney-movie-happy-ending (if that's your thing!). I also wish there was at least one or two more chapters at the end! But it was a good place to end and you can use your imagination for the future.
Plot summary:

The main character, Natalie, has 2 older siblings Lynn and Jake. Back when she was in high school and Lynn and Jake were in college, she called the cops on them because she was being spiteful yet they had drugs and were high in the house. Jake's friend ended up dying and Lynn and Jake went to jail for several years. After their mother dies, her will states in order to keep their beautiful Santa Cruz mansion, all 3 of them must reunite within a specific time period or the house is donated to the local historical society. Natalie hasn't talked to her siblings since they went to prison over 15 years before. She thinks her siblings hate her for what she did. But Natalie's personal life is falling apart, so she drives cross-country from Boston to Santa Cruz to find her siblings. She stays at the house with her cat, and eventually Lynn shows up with her tween son. Lynn has run away from her abusive husband to the house to start a new life. She's still bitter and holding a grudge against Natalie. Their brother Jake is missing. Natalie enlists the help of his lab-mate, who she slowly falls in love with. They eventually find Jake, who has been hiding out from everyone, including work, at their late mom's boyfriend's house. Turns out Jake isn't angry at either of them and wants them all to live together as a family unit in the house. Natalie quits her job in Boston, leaves her toxic relationship, and starts a dream program and job doing scientific illustration in Santa Cruz. I like how it was a nice ending, but it felt like everything tied up too perfectly and everyone got what they wanted. The book did not seem like that would happen, but everything worked out for everyone in the end.

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