The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lizaxwin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book deals with so many important topics and so many horrible people (all or at least some of which all of us have had or sadly will have in our lives sometime or another). Theo was a walking red flag basically, although a lot of his toxic behaviour nearly went undetected. This, imo, was one of the strength of the „upside-down“ storyline. You knew what to look out for.
I‘m still unsure if I find it infuriating that we never find out the protagonist‘s name or if I think it‘s a clever way of showing that every woman could be her.
All in all, a clever story with lots of depth, ma be a few pages too many and definitely a book which practically screams to be read at least two or three times to be grasped in its entirety.
(Definitely check trigger warnings for this one)
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
lizziewilson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
catarinagsr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- 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
The main character and her struggles, the fear of sliding down the same (mental health) path as her mother, the instability of Theo's mother and the strain it put on the relationship. Everything just felt so relatable (I might exclusively start reading work by Irish authors and always recognize myself in the story) and that made the book really click with me.
As the author also states on the back of the book 'she could think of nothing more horrific than love', and this book portrays love so beautifully and realistically. I will be thinking about this one for a long time to come.Â
If you loved Cleopatra & Frankenstein & Normal People, give this one a go too!Â
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
ceryswilliams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Sexual harassment
echokore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Incest, Sexual content, and Vomit
cheddar18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
cekuszy_12's review against another edition
- 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
From the prologue to the dedication, a wonderful story is woven with emotion presented everything and more than I was expecting.Â
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.Â
Give this and her other works a look.Â
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Graphic: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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.Â
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction and Animal death