Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood

5 reviews

ohshebookish's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia

erinsca's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

1.0

I wanted so badly to like this book but I really hated it. Some of the prose was really beautiful and the way the author described the struggle of middle aged womanhood and parenting was really lovely, but the plot, pacing, timeline, and events were unbearable. 

This poor woman loses a burgeoning career because of an unplanned pregnancy and everything goes downhill from there. Her second child dies in an accident, her husband cheats while she is drowning in grief, her first daughter has an affair with a teacher, and in the end her husband and daughter leave her. The book is set in a single day with flashbacks interspersed and even that day is traumatic with a sexual assault on a bus and so much pain. In the end she’s arrested and there’s some familial resolution but I was so frustrated and demoralized by the end that the paltry amount of redemption was not enough to counterbalance the misery that was this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual assault

prairieraven's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-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

3.25

Wish this book came with reader warnings for trauma responses (which start to happen part way through the book) starts out a bit fun, but as time goes on the story becomes wildly unhinged, and switches from amusing to beyond heartbreaking. 

Not sure of this story affected me more because I'm a parent of children/some now adults, or because I have my own traumas and mental health issues. The main characters are all flawed like real people and make the best and worst decisions like we all do. 

I read this all in one sitting, started at 11pm and finished at 2 am. The storyline hooks start early with this one and pull all the way through. Heartbreaking all the way through to the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

staylorreads's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Body shaming

ambersbooksandbakes's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Death of parent