Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

11 reviews

blairlynn's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

A solid 4. Started a little slow. conclusion wow. The ending was tied with a bow. Too tidy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Title: The Love of My Life
Author: Rosie Walsh
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Entertaining • Twisty • Propulsive

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby: she’d do anything for them. But almost everything she’s told them about herself is a lie.

And she might just have got away with it, if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer; Emma a well-known marine biologist. When she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best – researching and writing about his wife’s life. But as he starts to unravel the truth, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name isn’t real.

When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was...

But first, she must tell him about the other love of her life.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I included The Love of My Life on a list of 23 books to read in 2023 because it was one of the 2022 releases that intrigued me, but that I never got around to picking up. I wasn't exactly sure where this story would take me, yet it ended up taking me to the right place at the right time.

Combining elements of a variety of genres (mystery, suspense, romance, literary) flawlessly this book was an entertaining exploration of marriage, motherhood, and whether we ever really know the people we love. Well rounded complex characters are the foundation of this novel. Switching between Emma and Leo's perspectives, there's a slow suspenseful pace where everything unravels at the perfect moment. I didn't ever quite know where things were going to go next, which is why I ended up enjoying my time with this book.

The Love of My Life was another enjoyable GMA pick. Despite this having a slower pace, it was still a page turner that kept my interest. If you're looking for something thrilling, this isn't it. I look forward to reading Ghosted next year.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• domestic suspense lovers
• readers who loved The Last Thing He Told Me

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"When we have experienced more loss than is bearable she says, we hold on to everything."

"I don't know anything, other than that it's only when something's damaged beyond repair that we realize how beautiful it was." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cursing and Sexual content

Not open door but sex is a part of the storyline/topics casually mentioned

wifeslife's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-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

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

chelle22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, and Death of parent

saricostanzo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism

lisa00's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage

bitesizedbeet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

meliroo's review against another edition

emotional mysterious

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Cancer and Chronic illness

stephobrey'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? Yes

4.5

The writing was beautiful and I loved the descriptions. I feel the author adequately depicted the true raw emotions of the story. I just wish there was a bit more tying up at the end. All the questions were answered but there were parts that felt rushed and I feel could have used just a bit more. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, so if you’d like to discuss please feel free to message me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, and Pregnancy