chiaralzr'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
3.5
Minor: Sexual harassment, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, and Suicide
amberlen'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
2.5
This story was sorta mediocre. I kept expecting to finally get into it, to fully root for these characters like I did with Cerulean Sea but it never happened. That's not to say that I actively disliked the characters, setting, plot etc. but it was all just okay. Did I cry? Duh, it's a book about death. But even so, I find very literal depictions of the afterlife not that interesting
Spoiler
, and the happy ending, Wallace basically eluding death, felt a little like a cop out (and also predictable)Moderate: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Child death, and Animal death
Minor: Sexual harassment
niliii's review
- 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
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
thoughtsontomes's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment
izypup's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Confinement
Minor: Abandonment, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
thespian_lesbian's review
- 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
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Terminal illness, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
piquareste's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
The writing took me out of the story from time to time. I found the characterisation of Wallace, the main character, to be so cartoonishly and outlandishly cold and oblivious in the beginning, and that setup made it hard to feel genuine empathy for the character he becomes later on. I know there's meant to be character development and transformation, and it is noted by the end that he's no longer the same man from the beginning of the book, but it's just such a drastic and sudden change that I feel like it's just a completely different character. I think I would have really liked if the tone was more consistent—maybe something more substantive about his character in the beginning that lets us see his growth .
Spoiler
I even think his marriage with Naomi could be really interesting to explore with more depth! Especially earlier and more consistently. With the way that that memory of pulling out her chair affected him so much, and the way that he wanted Hugo to call her to tell her that about Wallace's good memories of her, I think the marriage could be a compelling way to show his lack of humanity (like his firing of Patricia Ryan) but potential for connection (which was harder to see in the firing).Overall a lovely time!
Moderate: Murder, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Chronic illness, and Sexual harassment
batwinggoth's review
- 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, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Car accident, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Self harm
The book is centered around dead people and meeting people from all walks of life as they die in various ways - understanding and helping them process their dead and pass. Most characters are complicated and real with great detail of their emotions, feelings, and inner dialogue and they process their life and what happened to them or what they're currently going through. There's a childSpoiler
who died from terminal illness whose mother is actively grieving and constantly visiting the tea shop (central setting of the book).Spoiler
murdered in an ally who recounts his death and expresses his extreme anger drastically.Spoiler
by his parents and experiences a sudden loss of his partner in the hospital and ends up dying by suicide due to his overwhelming grief.Spoiler
is only in reference to a man and a woman who visit their tea shop often and constantly hits on Hugo in inappropriate ways and in one instance the man even says he'll 'wear him down' despite Hugo already rejecting him multiple times.Spoiler
is only mentioned because a main character, Apollo, is a ghost dog who had passed.keen'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
3.5
I also appreciate him for creating a story where LGBTQ+ people aren't questioned. That's always refreshing to see. There are many stories about LGBTQ+ experiencing bigotry, either as the entire story or slice of it. Those stories are important, but I prefer to experience a world where it's simply accepted as another part of humanity.
And let me say, this artist has shown the perfect way to give a content warning. This is a book that deals with a heavy subject intrinsic to human life and shows how important it is for people to be aware of what they're going to read. It's at the start of the book under Author Notes, being quick to the point by explaining the themes.
The note: "This story explores life and love as well as loss and grief. There are discussions of death in different forms—quiet, unexpected, and death by suicide. Please read with care."
CW: Suicide Discussion
Spoiler
On a more personal note, as someone with chronic depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety disorders, I've never seen those subjects written with such care and empathy. I was fully ready to be disappointed when the subject would come up by criticizing people for being in a bad place, judging them for "throwing away their lives" and "not being strong enough." I was pleasantly surprised to see TJ Klune show that those comments are some of the worst ways to react to someone's suffering. He instead presents more empathetic ways to respond to people's illnesses and choices that don't blame them for how they feel.Graphic: Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Cancer, and Emotional abuse