jacobs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Cancer, and Car accident
bonguschingus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Devoured this book. Even took it to the gym to read on the treadmill. Such a heartwarming book that helps put life into perspective. Not strongly religious either and I loved the concept of heaven and the whole book. Enjoyed our grumpy main characters' points of view. Overall an original concept full of subtle wisdom and the perfect start-of-year read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I walked into this book expecting it to be sad and you expect for me not to shed any tears right? Wrong! I was definitely tearing up especially towards the end. I just don't even know how to explain my thoughts towards this book. In the beginning it felt like something I'd read for school so I got a little nervous but I should learn to be patient because I just started the book at that point. I like how this author attempts to tackle the concept of heaven into his own interpretation. And the way he incorporates the people that main character has encountered is genius. There so many shocking moments in this book too. Ughhhhh I can't really express how this book made me feel into words but just know I thought it was great. I'm literally about to read the second one right now!
There is one thing that bugged me though
There is one thing that bugged me though
Spoiler
on the third person part where he is suppose to forgive his dad for his father's abuse kinda didn't sit right with me. Also the scene where his mother was sexually assaulted and the third person, Ruby was excusing Mickey's actions because he was drunk and sad cuz he got laid off of a job. Like what?! If I didn't like the previous parts of the book and wasn't so stubborn I would've put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Murder
bratatouille's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a book that the world rly wants you to read. Book clubs, schools, the internet, all of them. I avoided it for quite a long time and, frankly, I shouldn’t have. They were right. It’s short and beautiful in its prose and message. The way it’s written is so real and the voice is easy to get lost in. I was rly caught between giving this three and a half stars or four. I would argue that it does deserve four stars, but I felt that it took too much time in some places and not enough in others. Either way, this is a short short read and I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, and Violence
time_travelling_reader's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Physical abuse
someonelikeblue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Excrement, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Chronic illness, Ableism, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Mental illness, Grief, Fatphobia, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Infertility
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, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Sexual harassment
pmdwapo11's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I got through this book in one day. It hooks you in from the start but isn’t very satisfying to finish — it left me feeling like I was missing something.
The book had a lovely premise and was very thoughtful and reflective but I feel like more could’ve been done with the premise.
Spoiler
I didn’t love how the author painted Mickey as someone who “just made a mistake” after drinking — he assaulted Eddie’s mom and we see him do it, but then it seems like it was just there to show that everyone makes mistakes?The book had a lovely premise and was very thoughtful and reflective but I feel like more could’ve been done with the premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, War, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: 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
Spoiler
Note: This was one of my late grandma's favorite books and I read it this month to celebrate her birthday.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: Death, Sexual assault, and Confinement
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Terminal illness
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