Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

8 reviews

indydc's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

Delightful story. Excellent narration in the audiobook by Clare Corbett.

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bessadams's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5


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kayleejanes's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0


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daniellekat's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Cute but too long winded. This was great as an audiobook, the narrator did an excellent job with all the characters. I typically love books with the "a bunch of strangers realize they have more in common than meets the eye" plot line, but I found the writing here a bit heavy handed. I missed the nuance of the characters getting into each others stories and felt like the author sped through the first half, then dragged the rest of the book out unnecessarily.
Some might enjoy a good HEA, but I found that this lacked conflict and consequences. There were no moments where I felt anxious for any of the characters or their outcomes.
Overall, this was a solid feel good book but was too slow paced.

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dogsyarnandbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

I loved this book! Such a fun, quirky cast of diverse characters, all brought together by unlikely circumstances. However, a lot of the reviews are calling this a “lighthearted read,” and while it’s certainly heartwarming and joyful most if the time, I think calling it “lighthearted” is misleading. It deals with some very heavy topics that could be off putting to someone who picks it up expecting all warm fuzzies. If you’re a sensitive reader, you may find it difficult in some parts, but it’s truly a wonderful book. 

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isabell's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.0


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brittany_jean's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

As a former train-commuter, this book captures the experience of daily train riding so perfectly. I loved it! There are a few typos but the story is so great I still read it in 2 days. 

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what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

"The faces surrounding Piers all wore various shades of glum. It occurred to him that they were each individual spokes of a wheel, but Iona was the centre, the axis, and without her, the group of them had no purpose at all, and very little in common."

Present day London and formidable, middle-aged, 'magazine therapist' (agony aunt) Iona travels by train for work. Despite her years of experience, eccentric Iona she is bullied at work by younger colleagues for being 'a dinosaur', so she decides to enlist the help of regular train passengers (whom she has given funny names, like 'Smart-but-sexist-Surbiton') after one of them has a near death experience in their carriage one day. With nothing in common but their commute, they begin to get to know one another. Meeting nurse Sanjay, PR advisor Emmie, school pupil Martha, banker Piers and solicitor David opens each of their eyes to their assumptions about one another. All of them are struggling with imposter syndrome and all of them turn to inspiring Iona for help. Will she turn to them when she needs help too?

As with The Authenticity Project, this is a wonderfully uplifting novel about the power of friendship and community when times are tough. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the characters through their perspectives (although I was concerned Iona's wife Bea didn't have her own narrative). All of the main characters are well drawn, with their own lives and Iona, in particular will stay with me #WhatWouldIonaDo This is a warm, funny and poignant tale that makes for a great read.

"'When I'm feeling unsure about anything,' said Martha, 'I just ask myself, what would Iona do?' 'Me too,' said David. 'Who'd have thought I'd end up basing my life choices on an eccentric lesbian? But it seems to work.'"

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