Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

18 reviews

minibean24's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

I adored this novel. I loved every character and felt a deep attachment to the family. I truly felt the parents' love and concern for their child and appreciated that the book tackled the intricacies of navigating parenting a nonbinary child, even whilst being fully supportive of the child. It forced me to consider different perspectives- all while still showing unconditional love and support for the child's wishes. It felt like a parenting book rolled into a deeply touching novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, and Child death

lilly0201's review

inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Cancer

otterspond's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Homophobia, and Pregnancy

sometimes_samantha_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

I'm not trans or nonbinary, but I'm pan. I really identified with the constriction of the binary when reading this and considering the protagonist. I appreciated the realness the book provided with so many what ifs and anxiety as well as the happy moments. Also, the book was funny! It balanced the sobering and plain sad/angry moments with some very funny ones! 

One thing I struggled with was the name of the protagonist. It bothered me that once the dead name was shirked by the protagonist, other characters would consistently dead name them. To be fair, it was shown in a very real way, mainly used by parents of the protagonist who were learning, but still. Same with the use of particular pronouns. There was a lot of floundering with them which seemed annoying to me because the protagonist claims their name and pronouns at a very particular point in the story and the name and pronouns are not used consistently even after they expressly asked for them. 

Eventually it all worked our as the protagonist identified with both male and female pronouns, but I was annoyed that when they asked for she/her pronouns, it was often met with "he, well now, she". 

Otherwise I truly did enjoy the book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, Medical content, Outing, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Gun violence

toorsdenote's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Transphobia, Murder, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, and Medical content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

swaggyfrog's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Outing

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Blood, Medical content, and Dysphoria

justannaagain's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is an important book. One I think everyone should read. It’s empathetic and beautiful and I’m not sure if there is anything quite like it in mainstream fiction. I’ve read three times now and it never fails to amaze me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Sexual content and Medical content

thatsssorachael's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

Holy shit. I was told this book was amazing. But this book is AMAZING. 

This Is How It Always Is handles gender identity and family dynamics beautifully. I fell in love with every single character in this book. All those boys, Rosie and Penn, and of course Poppy. I adored them all, and it was honestly difficult to say goodbye when I finished the book. It honestly blew me away. I think every single parent needs to read this book. 

I have nothing negative to say. Beautifully done. 

Recommend to anyone

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Minor: Gun violence