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saoreads's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
"the world is full of stories but the stories are all one"—The straightforward way of narrating the story to introduce a lesson on why we live and what we live for, as if tracing the dots, you realize it all happened for a reason when you look back. The different angles; sacrifice, forgiveness, then unveiling it to find a purpose; that your life wasn't a waste, you made a difference. It was striking to put it with the backward format of the novel, which began from the ending. It makes you think about life in general, because all of your suppression, hatred, denial, and emotions reveal how you have been living your life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
chandranolynne's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
clemrain's review against another edition
reflective
sad
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
The Five People You Meet in Heaven was not for me.
Found it hard to sympathize with Eddie. I normally like characters that can be hard to root for, but Eddie didn’t fit the bill. The more people he met in heaven to explain his life, the more irritated I got with Eddie. His life goes against many of my own morals and maybe that’s why. I tried to keep an open mind and meet the books end to understand the character better but it didn’t happen.
The way this book makes you see the “good side” of abusive and shitty people is absolutely gross. What was especially out of touch was Ruby telling Eddie to forgive his father when she is a total stranger to him and his situation . His father was abusive and self righteous. This is one of the morals that contradict mine. Forgiveness isn’t necessary to move on. Also Eddie’s mom was in the middle of being sexually assaulted and somehow his father ended up being the victim but also a good guy because he forgave the person who was doing it?? Like yeah I get message. People are complicated. However. there is absolutely a better way of showing that than what the author went with.
The writing was simple. Nothing spectacular about it. It is interesting to read a piece of fiction by someone who primarily works in non-fiction. It really reads in the writing style. I do think this story could’ve been shorter and I’m glad it wasn’t longer.
Ending was predictable and exactly what I thought it’d be. Does that make it bad? No. But it’s adds to the lack of memorability of this book.
I really wanted to like this book and I had expectations going into it. Maybe that contributed to my disappointment in it.
Side note: I also did not appreciate how the little child was described at the end of the book and it turned my mood sour for it.
Found it hard to sympathize with Eddie. I normally like characters that can be hard to root for, but Eddie didn’t fit the bill. The more people he met in heaven to explain his life, the more irritated I got with Eddie. His life goes against many of my own morals and maybe that’s why. I tried to keep an open mind and meet the books end to understand the character better but it didn’t happen.
The way this book makes you see the “good side” of abusive and shitty people is absolutely gross. What was especially out of touch was Ruby telling Eddie to forgive his father when she is a total stranger to him and his situation . His father was abusive and self righteous. This is one of the morals that contradict mine. Forgiveness isn’t necessary to move on.
The writing was simple. Nothing spectacular about it. It is interesting to read a piece of fiction by someone who primarily works in non-fiction. It really reads in the writing style. I do think this story could’ve been shorter and I’m glad it wasn’t longer.
Ending
I really wanted to like this book and I had expectations going into it. Maybe that contributed to my disappointment in it.
Side note: I also did not appreciate how the little child was described at the end of the book and it turned my mood sour for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
lo0o0o0tte's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
cried throughout the whole book. a must read. (even if ur not into sad books me neither but this is like good-sad)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual harassment
noesols's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jesspolly1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. I was quickly drawn into the story and easily could have read it in one sitting. It’s such and emotive story with just the right amount joy, sadness and longing. Highly recommended!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
minapaige's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Infertility
secondlastk's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Honestly it felt kinda trite! But I was pretty happy going along for the ride until the final person he met. I think having it be someone he accidentally killed during the war, and a child at that, was a cheap twist to keep you wondering if he saved the kid at the start or not. I know the book is kinda ABOUT fate and how life is made up of accidents and coincidences, but also sometimes people do bad things on purpose and that might have been more interesting to explore. I wished he had met the enemy soldier he killed that had been nice to him. I hate that the child was trapped there waiting to be lesson for the man that killed her. I hate that she spoke broken english.
I don't think that I'm interested enough in the vague brand of spiritualism that this book is about.
I don't think that I'm interested enough in the vague brand of spiritualism that this book is about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Car accident
below_average_baker's review
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really liked the concept of this book but the execution felt rushed and disappointing. The "morals" felt like inspirational quotes you see on facebook rather than something actually deep and meaningful. The main thing that I hated was excusing his father's lifelong abuse and making Eddie forgive him because the dad didn't quite kill the guy who sexually assaulted his wife . That seems very poorly thought out without considering the nuance and complicated emotions that would actually be involved in the situation.
If you like the idea of this story, I would recommend "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig instead, or even "On the Other Side" by Carrie Hope Fletcher. Personally, I enjoyed them far more.
If you like the idea of this story, I would recommend "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig instead, or even "On the Other Side" by Carrie Hope Fletcher. Personally, I enjoyed them far more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Infertility, Vomit, and Alcohol
dohertys17's review
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Likes:
- Quick, easy read
- Not overly preachy/God toned language
- Liked the theme of someone who is unhappy with where they are in the world being able to come to terms with their life and find some sort of meaning.
- Learned that Kewpie was originally plastic dolls and not just Japanese mayo hahah
Dislikes:
- I kept forgetting that Eddie was in his 80s. The way he was portrayed made him seem like he was much younger. Also, I feel that he likely had some time to reflect during his aging process and not be so shocked by his death (although it was caused by a horrific accident)
- The 5-year-old Asian girl somehow knew English but not well enough to speak properly. Find it sort of sad that the main/only POC character in this book was portrayed this way (especially in the magical world of heaven)
- Throughout the book I felt like I was being told how to feel rather than feeling it for myself.
- His relationship with Margueritte felt unhealthy, as if he idolized her, yet we don't find out that she has died until near the very end. Why was he not looking forward to potentially meeting her in heaven?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Terminal illness