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hbugsbooks's review
emotional
funny
sad
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? No
4.0
My heart hurts. I loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
abbruzzese's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
I wish I had stayed up for longer. I wish I had watched her sleeping, I wish we’d had one more chat about nothing or one more episode. I wish I had known.
Holy fuck. I don't think I've ever gotten so worked up, so snotty-nosed, over a book. I was in tears—big, fat, shaking sobs—for most of it. This is so well done, I loved it. But I will never read it again because it hurts too much.
The time jumps were a bit confusing in the beginning, but I wouldn't have wanted it any different. I can't imagine a book about grief organized in a linear, chronological way, as if grief gives a shit about the concept of forward progress or moving on. Ruth's grief is written so honestly—ugly thoughts and bad actions included—that it is physically painful to imagine being her. The writing is simple and relatable, which hurts more as it's so easy to see myself in the story. IMO, Jessie Cave writes similarly to Sally Rooney, but Cave's writing is a million times more tolerable.
I don’t want to get in the car, I can’t leave my sister. But the driver opens the car door and suddenly, I am. I’m leaving her.
I wonder what this book feels like to people without siblings. As someone with two sisters, both younger than me—the Ruths to my Hannah—this book tore me apart. I loved my sisters before I started reading, and I love them now that I've finished, but it's different. Something about being reminded that one day I will lose them hurts so badly and in such a way that the fact that they're still alive and well doesn't fix the ache in me.
Brooke, Eden—I love you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
lilycollings's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcohol
acosyreader's review
challenging
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
crappyendings's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book came with me to pee, shower and walk the dog. I did not put this book down.
When it finished I had to snap back to reality because it was described in such vivid detail.
It is accurate in the messy, tumultuous and non-linear nature of devastating loss. A truly heartbreaking book but absolutely beautiful at the same time.
I was surprised at how little mention there is of this book online as it was so naturally captivating.
When it finished I had to snap back to reality because it was described in such vivid detail.
It is accurate in the messy, tumultuous and non-linear nature of devastating loss. A truly heartbreaking book but absolutely beautiful at the same time.
I was surprised at how little mention there is of this book online as it was so naturally captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
bethnash's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
sib_reads's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Stalking
jamieleepilk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Thank you so much to Welbeck Publishing UK for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
"Some days I look at the clouds and think I see her. I almost believe in otherworldly things. I look at the sky and I can acknowledge it's beauty - it is clear blue, the clouds looks puffy and edible. I begin to entertain thoughts of impossible things, feel the astounding endlessness of the universe. Despite this, I believe that there is nothing afterwards - it's final. You die and you're done."
This book was nothing like what I expected.
It's a book that is at times extremely difficult to read with it's unflinchingly honest and raw look at grief that comes with loosing somebody who was your whole world. Saying that sparks of Jessie's beautiful sense of humour shone through. Ruth was a brilliant character who you couldn't help but fall in love with and connect with. I loved some of Ruth's/Jessie's observations about life. It's written so well and in a way that is extremely gripping, some passages are written so beautifully that it takes your breath away.
"Some days I look at the clouds and think I see her. I almost believe in otherworldly things. I look at the sky and I can acknowledge it's beauty - it is clear blue, the clouds looks puffy and edible. I begin to entertain thoughts of impossible things, feel the astounding endlessness of the universe. Despite this, I believe that there is nothing afterwards - it's final. You die and you're done."
This book was nothing like what I expected.
It's a book that is at times extremely difficult to read with it's unflinchingly honest and raw look at grief that comes with loosing somebody who was your whole world. Saying that sparks of Jessie's beautiful sense of humour shone through. Ruth was a brilliant character who you couldn't help but fall in love with and connect with. I loved some of Ruth's/Jessie's observations about life. It's written so well and in a way that is extremely gripping, some passages are written so beautifully that it takes your breath away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol