Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

62 reviews

gingerlaura's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

Unexpectedly really liked this!

The background stories of several characters were a bit wonky, but other than that I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, heavy, emotional and lighthearted all at once, and I can't deny I teared up a little at the end. In other words, this was pretty much everything you'd want in a feelgood book, can definitely recommend this if you're in the mood for something fun yet comforting! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Drug abuse

cheriejanette's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

What a feel good story! I loved this, and I even got a bit teary eyed 🥺🥹 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Child death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Child abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

bhanson24's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicide

garnethalo's review

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

For everyone who had a favorite author as a kid, this book explores the relationships with the books that defined us. A wonderful story that had me turning every page eagerly.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, and Miscarriage

madelynowil's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

From the start, I’ve had an apprehensive relationship with this book. It caught my eye when it dropped as a Book of the Month selection. I ultimately passed on it because I couldn’t determine if it would be something I would enjoy. I liked the premise but after seeing so many fantasy tags, I decided to put it on the back burner (and eventually bought the Kindle version). When a buddy read opportunity came up I figured I’d finally put my curiosity at rest. 

 

In the style of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jack Masterson holds a contest at his home, Clock Island, which is the backdrop of his famed children’s books. The prize is his newest book in the ‘Clock Island’ series — the only copy. Four contestants all have their reasons for wanting to win, however, the story focuses heavily on the contestant Lucy Hart. She hopes to win the book especially for her young student Christopher. Though she knows it’s merely wishful thinking, she hopes to adopt him. 

 

I feel like a lot of good intentions went into this book… but they came out in all of the wrong ways. Lucy’s relationship with Christopher is unhealthy and, frankly, inappropriate. Not in an abusive sense, rather, she’s imposed herself into his life, taking on the role of mother when she is hardly in a position to take care of herself let alone a child. Very much on the surface, it’s a sweet bond, especially connecting through the ‘Clock Island’ books, but when you look at the situation, it’s unsettling, especially in today’s climate. 

 

Another instance of this is with Jack admitting that he’d always wanted a child and was not in a time, place, or situation that would allow him. But it goes beyond that. This man received letters from children, many of them along with their wishes (as per the theme of his books). Sadly, many of these wishes centered around tragic home lives… to which Jack would reply with what many people would point out as a red flag in the real world. Despite that, we are left to assume his intentions were good-hearted. To go even further, we hear about an occurrence with one child who took up one of his offers to live with him on ‘Clock Island’. 

 

Were there some scenes I got sucked into? Enjoyed? Definitely. Did they matter in the greater scheme of the book? Sadly, no, and I can only recall the details of one of them due to it being a buddy read discussion. The book lacked direction as a whole. At the beginning of the book I thought it was going to be multiple POVs, then the focus on Lucy took over, and then the other contestants seemed to be mostly forgotten as Hugo and Lucy’s friendship grew. (Some of that early stuff is likely on me as I was under the weather, but given how the book progressed, I stand by it.) On top of this, I found the characters superficial, albeit, not without potential. Unfortunately, those characters with the most promise have the major strikes against them that I’ve already mentioned. 

 

Lastly, there is a strong YA voice presented in the writing, which is fine and complements the plot, however, it’s not being marketed as such. Even making Lucy say, 20, would explain the way she presents herself (to a certain degree). I’m also confused as to why this is being so heavily tagged as fantasy. I’d say there are whimsical elements at best but it is otherwise very much a piece of contemporary fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Chronic illness

Minor: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Cancer

someryarns's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Death, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Cancer, and Child abuse

henyouise's review

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

Another good not great. My biggest gripe is that the relationship between Lucy and Christopher is kind of odd. Not in a creepy way.
I love Jack and Hugo and their weird little island. I would like to read more about them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage

vidotson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

brimclala's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Child death and Cancer

Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Child abuse