Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

46 reviews

cekuszy_12's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

 Hazel has a way with words and describing emotions that truly capture both the highest highs and lowest lows. In some of the promotional work for the book, questions like what age group is this for and how should someone who hasn't gone through a breakup understand the book? I would say, young adult or older would most benefit from reading this book. As for requiring experience, I think that there isn't a need for one to have broken up with someone to understand the emotions. It is so well written and the emotions so applicable to many scenarios in life, some of them addressed within the book, I think anyone could find a way to relate. 
From the prologue to the dedication, a wonderful story is woven with emotion presented everything and more than I was expecting. 
I've reread it several times, a couple of times from the last chapter back to the first. However you read it, I think it's worth it. I even specifically reread certain sections, more than several times over. 
Give this and her other works a look. 
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Blood

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

 
I think it was its unusual structure which prompted me to put Out of Love on my TBR. Most stories with a romantic storyline begin with the initial meeting, follow some ups and downs, and end with a happy ever after, or at least a happy for now; a breakup if the relationship doesn’t work out. This book does things backwards. It opens with the end of the relationship between the narrator and her boyfriend Theo, and moves backwards to the time that they met. Unfortunately this novelty was not enough to make this book a winner for me. The details of their relationship were just not that interesting. Basically it’s the story of two nice but flawed people whose relationship didn’t pan out. Undoubtedly factors like alcoholic parents, a manipulative mother, a previous toxic relationship, and mental health problems played a role, but none were explored in depth. This is one of those books that I didn’t hate but certainly won’t remember. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism

eviecheesepuff's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

 ✨this book✨ okay, first things first, I absolutely loved the narration. Our main character is an Irish woman who we never learn the name of, very in the fashion of Rebecca. I love that for some reason. I know this person so well, yet I don't know her name.

The amount of trauma our MC has is MASSIVE, and somehow Hazel Hayes manages to write such a relatable character.

The MC's bff Maya is literally my favorite and I love to see a bisexual mc who has a female best friend and at no point does that relationship turn sexual. I am obsessed!

I wouldn't call this a love story. Is more like a self discovery of oneself journey.

LESSONS LEARNED:

- A relationship might not work out in the end but that doesn't mean you should forget or ignore all the good parts. Pain is a side effect of love.

- Therapy is always a good idea. For everyone. Regardless of the amount of trauma you've endured. We all have some.

- 3rd slide. Literally every word on the page regarding children and wanting to become a parent.

- There's no such thing as a perfect mom/dad. They are also human. However, that doesn't mean you have to tolerate abuse from them. Stay safe out there.

notes
- I love Hazel Hayes, the prologue and acknowledgements are somehow some of my favorite parts of this book.

-I AM NOT A BANANA

-I have my Lena, I just need to find my Maya. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction and Animal death

alina3's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide

jojoana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse

jadyn_renee62's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death and Abortion

itsbumley's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Vomit

lorepineiro's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

This book was the definition of bittersweet. The story begins at the end, at the couple’s breakup, and it slowly starts rewinding back to when they first met. When I first started Out of Love, I hated Theo, I couldn’t see how the main character (who is unnamed throughout the entire book) could ever fall in love with him, but once I finished the book I understood, and I was heartbroken about how they both ended up. This book does not only go over this romance, but also the main character’s struggle with her mental health. Many quotes were so beautiful and raw that they will always stay with me, and the portrayal of toxic parental figures and how that translates into how you live your life was truly heart-wrenching. I recommend this book not only because of its unique plot and structure, but also because of its naked, honest representation of unhealthy relationships, romantic and familial, and the effects they might have on how we think of ourselves and others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

6emptynotebooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Car accident, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia