Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin

15 reviews

lydabuff's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Quite a hard read, as there's quite a few difficult themes and a lot of mentions of vomit, but enjoyable. 

Constance is a complicated and lonely woman reeling from a personal tragedy when she meets Dr Samuel and well, she gets a bit more unhinged. 

Levin writes brilliant, layered characters including my favourite grumpy old man Edward. Constance flits from being someone you can fully understand and empathise with to making the worst and cringiest decisions but this helps her feels three dimensional and real. 

Definitely one to read but, mindfully, for some of the content. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Self harm and Violence

charlotte_37's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

reggiereading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

chloe_silk1810's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Not the best ending in the world, was heavily invested though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

natashaamysimpson's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

cinderelliex's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

teasag's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Personally, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea, but i can totally see why some people would love it.

I just feel as though the ending glorifies addiction, stalking and obsession- which are all issues the main character has with the “love interest”. I did not like how in the end, the main character is not punished for her behaviour and that the “love interest” is completely reprimanded for his even though he is just trying to protect himself from her

overall, i just didn’t enjoy this book, i don’t like the main character and don’t think it depicts obsession in the right way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

oceannec's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

HOLY WOW! This book is my second 5 star read of 2022 and I’m so glad I found it. If you’re a fan of Netflix’s “You” this book is for you! I binged it all in one day and couldn’t put it down. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen the author throws a curveball your way. It was dark and twisted and really demonstrates how the small things in life can have a massive personal impact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, and Stalking

beth_orourke's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.75

While this book was quite slow paced, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. A total tearjerker towards the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death of parent

meganabigailreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail