Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

13 reviews

ml_schoon's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

maryyyyyy's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Critics will call this an "irreverent romp" or "scandalously funny." Very unique, I couldn't put it down, but I'm undecided on the ending. LOTS of content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Drug use, Grief, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, and Sexual content

jesselandolfi's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Incredibly unhinged. Probably the most uncomfortable book I’ve ever read and I loved every second. Comforted by Greta’s chaos like some tight socks. 

One of the books where I could clearly understand why someone might dislike it and I would not have a good argument for why I did love it, but I do. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Stalking

kharkeyz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

a good one! cant lie, always a bit confused about everything in this book, but it’s definitely funny and worth reading if you’re looking for something a bit more left-field with your comedy haha. definitely enjoyable and strange and funny with a love??? story in the middle!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Suicide

mraddd's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Stalking, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Rape

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

alicialicia's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense 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

3.5

Weird & darkly humorous. Found myself entranced but also struggled to feel as though some of the emotional dynamics taking place between characters were earned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Stalking, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

Minor: Vomit, Rape, and Cancer

ec_holland's review against another edition

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

4.25

What a strange little book.

I was absolute enamored until the end, which left a feeling of the author quickly tying up plot questions.

The ending is the only thing that docked this from being a 5 star read for me. I also believe that it would have likely benefited from being written in first person vs. third, but wasn't put off by this decision. Otherwise, the book really had me enamored. I don’t think the characters are meant to be likable, but I found myself liking parts of each of them.

Spoiler

I really appreciated how the story approaches the MC’s memories of how suicide impacts a family and lingering suicidal ideation. Particularly the concept of a haunting “p.s.”

I also appreciated the depiction of middle aged female friendship and the MC’s relation to her dog. Both felt authentic and frantic, which is what I miss from many contemporary fiction books.

Great book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent

Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment

maureenlessreen's review against another edition

Vivid violence against women & misogyny 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Abandonment, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Trafficking, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Homophobia

gummifrog's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was like a warm hug, a sweet, slow, loving, hilarious, and realistic memoir of trauma, repression, healing, and relationships. The tone is witty and irreverent, with some truly laugh-out-loud moments and delightfully clever prose. But it's not just a comedy, either - the cover and synopsis has a shock value, but the most surprising thing to me was an empathetic beating heart at the center of this book. I loved Big Swiss and I'm glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Infidelity, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Eating disorder

bookhead420's review against another edition

challenging sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence