Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Als ich Amanda wurde by Meredith Russo

16 reviews

d00rframe's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Mental illness, Rape, Outing, Misogyny, and Homophobia

Moderate: Deadnaming, Abandonment, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

basicallybug's review against another edition

emotional inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

What can I say about this novel? What words exist to encompass how I feel right now. I first bought this book a few years ago, a few weeks after I had come out to my mother as lesbian (which... is a story in and of itself.) I wanted to challenge myself to stay out of the closet, and that started with bringing queer literature home. Life happened, and I didn't get a chance to keep reading. However, as part of my new years resolutions, I elected to read more - starting by finishing books I forgot about. If I Was Your Girl is one of the best books I've ever read, hands down. The plot twist had me floored, with genuine emotions pouring out of me, and the storyline felt natural, not exceptionally rushed in some places while slow in others. As a non-binary reader, it absolutely gave me insight into what life is like for those who grapple with heavier self-hatred than I do, all while keeping me engaged with the storyline, rooting for the characters. I cannot reccomend this book enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, Biphobia, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

kia_y_k's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

Minor: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Outing, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Death, Biphobia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Homophobia, Dysphoria, Bullying, Violence, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

jennafur's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Gees this book was wonderful. Had me hooked from the beginning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, Hate crime, and Homophobia

Minor: Gun violence

finleyworm'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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Hate crime

vanesst's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Transphobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Misogyny, Abortion, Mental illness, Rape, and Religious bigotry

standerson's review against another edition

hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

in which the villain is the bisexual girl who smokes weed

also the author is allegedly a domestic abuser

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Rape, Suicide, Bullying, Deadnaming, Drug use, Hate crime, Mental illness, Medical content, and Transphobia

babudarabu's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Outing

Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexual content, Dysphoria, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Mental illness, and Blood

lilikamasha's review

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia

Moderate: Rape, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Biphobia, Gun violence, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

bronsonmh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

 
This book was just wow. I really enjoyed reading it. It was very raw and powerful. I thought it was a great character based book. Amanda was such a strong character with a great voice. Granted this is the first book that I have read in which the main character was trans so I did not know so much about what they really go through. This book was a start of a great education for me. I would love to learn more about them and try to understand them to the best of my abilities. I listened to it as an audio book and thought it was a great choice. Also I highly recommend people to read or listen to the authors note. She talks about how this is her telling a story and things might not happen so easy in real life, but it really is a great positive way for people to think. I also liked the idea of flash back chapters to when Amanda was Andrew and her journey to become who she really wanted to be. The only issue I have with the book is some of the writing style and a little bit with the plot. For awhile I was trying to figure out what the main plot story was, but since this was character based I understand. And sometimes I did not like how the chapters jumped sometimes like from one scene to the next so fast you have no idea how you got there. Other than that I think it is a great read and a great debut novel. Hope to read more from her soon. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Outing, Transphobia, Hate crime, and Homophobia