Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

Meredith, yksin by Claire Alexander

26 reviews

sarahl0726's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

mathildemroy's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide attempt

erudler's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Please read the TW for the book before you dive in - the cute little description gives no background for the intensity of the story

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

kell_xavi's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

3.5

This is a book full of acceptance and empathy for people dealing with trauma, neglect, abuse, and mental disorders. It follows Meredith, a kind-hearted, reserved woman who suffers from panic attacks and severe depressive episodes when she attempts to leave her house. She has been home for over three years, with a careful routine, an online job, an orange cat, and many indoor hobbies to keep her company. In this novel, Meredith tries to grow human connections, to cope with her personal history—told through flashback memories every few chapters—and to go outside.

The writing reminded me Nina LaCour, with its gentle movement through memory and its aftermath. Though Watch Over Me and We Are Okay, the most similar novels to this one, are both centred around characters 20+ years younger than Alexander’s protagonist, the voices had commonalities: a sense of small wonders, isolation, low self-esteem and a lot of self-blame, kindness and brokenness and pride in small achievements. Part of this is how the titular character here is treated, but the youthful is also a little odd, and I sometimes forgot she had 40 years of life within her.

A couple parts come together too easily, and others are belaboured, which lessens my overall rating. Fiona is a tangled character with a complex relationship to her sister, so it’s inevitably messy , but I think the depiction could’ve been stronger. And I don’t think either trendy pop version of the cover fits the book well! I did enjoy Meredith and her support network though. I liked the jigsaw puzzles and baking, the lack of judgment on age or any sort of expected landmark; I feel that depression and its most difficult effects are represented well in these pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Fatphobia

besidemyshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Rape

catrinlj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I listened to the audiobook and I must admit that it was beautifully read by the narrator. However, I found the themes quite heavy and the amount of misery experienced by the main character felt a bit unrelenting after a certain point - it was not a book I necessarily looked forward to continuing during my commute! There were some moments of lighter humour, and Meredith and her friends were kind-hearted and thoughtful characters, but overall it felt a bit too slow and too heavy-going for me to be able to say I properly enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Self harm

Minor: Cancer and Miscarriage

lymadebell's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

A slice of life book that is about an agoraphobe. I thought this book showed a real growth of character for Meredith and honestly, even for Tom and Meredith's sister Fiona. This book was still incredibly sad even though there was growth and happiness. It was all about trauma and grief and how we deal with it. I wish this book was a bit more happy, but it felt more real that it didn't have magical happy endings all over the place. If you're looking for a book about mental health and how humans deal with grief and trauma, this is a great book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage

There was wide descriptions of emotional abuse from a parent. There was also a number of situations where rape was mentioned or eluded to.

becky_bo0p's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Rape

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book, while such a good read, is also a super hard read. I recommend to only read this book in a good headspace, because it is very heavy and definitely not for everyone.

But it was for me amazingly. There are elements of hope and light in the darkness, such as found family and supportive friends. There is also very deep complex trauma and family relationships in this book, and the entirety of the effects and messy healing process are not concealed or tied in a pretty bow. We get the real, raw deal in this book. Not a lighthearted read, but a real read with a lot of depth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

This book impressed me with its ability to get mental illness right. I’ve read so many books about mentally I’ll characters who go to therapy and i always feel like they never are able to encapsulate the true experience. 

Also I can tell the author of this book did their research on what a therapist is actually like or has actually been to therapy themselves. It was refreshing to read a book where the therapist actually gave the character sound advice and there was an actual relationship and bond formed between therapist and client. 

The overall story was well written, Meredith is a complicated character and who is deeply struggling. I found myself really relating to her. I think she’s a character that would be difficult for people to relate to if they have little to no experience with severe anxiety or depression. I was rooting for her from beginning to end. Her journey is not an easy one and as the story unfolds more and more is revealed about Meredith and why she is the way she is. 

I really recommend this to anyone suffering from severe anxiety or depression. Anyone who feels hopeless and like life is not going to get better. This book made me feel less alone and gave me some hope that I will get through the difficult times!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body horror, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy