Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - All's Well

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

All's Well by Mona Awad

135 reviews

lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition

dark tense 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

3.5

Although All's Well is classified as horror, similar to Bunny, but it could be more appropriately categorized under magical realism (or perhaps surrealism), just like Bunny.

This book confirmed my suspicion that Mona Awad will be an auto-buy author for me. Awad has indeed made it to my list of favorite authors because I have an affinity for the peculiar.

Articulating my thoughts on Awad's books is always a challenge, despite the excellence of her prose and storytelling. Rating All's Well was difficult as I found the ending slightly underwhelming. I sought more rage and a more unhinged narrative.

While I rate Bunny higher (I wish I could read that book for the first time again), All's Well is still a good read. It's just so frustrating for me to still not know what Miranda's, the main character of All's Well, mental health issue is, unlike in Bunny when it was clearly schizophrenia. However, maybe I'm overanalyzing and All's Well is merely about the dismissal of women's pain coupled with misogyny, even from women themselves.

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mylou's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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isabellakost's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

“All’s Well” by Mona Awad is an eerie, deeply unsettling novel (in the best way possible). Narrated by theatre professor Miranda Fitch, we experience her descent into madness and witness how she becomes increasingly frantic as unexplainable events unfold. Miranda isn’t a lovable character by any means, but she is certainly compelling. This book is perfect for theatre nerds, especially those with a soft spot for Shakespeare.

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hazyskyys's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

i really liked this book for the first half but i think the ending was too confusing to keep up with. i know the confusion was probably intentional, but it was hard to finish in my opinion. i love the complex feelings i got about miranda, as i really empathized with her in the beginning half and was rooting for her, but you progressively see her become morally grey. i think this was also a wonderful depiction of what living with chronic pain is like, so anyone who has chronic pain disorders should consider reading

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talis_turner's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

There are sexual elements to this book.

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geminireader's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? No

5.0

When I first read Bunny, I Ioved the prose but didn’t feel a strong connection to the message of the story. It was a crazy read though, so when I saw Mona Awad had another book All’s Well, I was excited to give it a try. This one I truly cannot praise enough. As someone who suffers from chronic conditions, I felt so seen by Miranda’s character. I really believe the backdrop of this story got the message across beautifully. It was so raw while also having mysterious magical elements and, true to Awad, all the characters were so unique and distinct which instantly makes them feel so alive from Page 1. I truly think everyone can gain perspective from this book; undoubtedly, it’s a must read.

It is a bit slow moving in the beginning and then suddenly really picks it up. If you can get through the beginning, it’s worth it.

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dudeguyface's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

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rachelly's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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luckykosmos's review against another edition

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challenging tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Incredibly stressful, I'm obsessed. I think people who didn't quite click with Bunny should give this one a shot - the way that All's Well and Macbeth as stories were paralleled in the story, how Miranda was using those around her as set dressing for reclaiming the life before her injury, was amazing. I adore Mona Award.

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pagesfromhome's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

Awad really went there with this one. I have literally never read a book like this one in the best way possible.

Her stream-of-consciousness first-person writing is impeccable and pulls you through Miranda's story wonderfully. You go from pitying her to hating her to questioning her to fearing her to being scared for her, and through all of it you're left wondering what in the world could happen next. Awad does an incredible job of weaving Shakespearean nods throughout the characters and the plot seamlessly and it was really fascinating to see how she used that in her craft.

This also does a wonderful job of highlighting what it is to live with chronic pain with the need to be a "good patient" and how anger and fear can get involved. All in all, I'd call this a perfect book club pick or definitely one to add to your list if you like a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.

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