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biscuitgale's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
Wow, what an unexpected journey in navigating grief and finding unexpected care from unexpected places! The characters are well developed and have very realistic pain and motivations. I did guess the twist in the story somewhat earlier on, but the story also reveals it to us pretty quickly. Despite the there being tension, this book wasn’t stressful to read. I do have issues with how adamant the book is on blood relationships over found family, but I did enjoy the story overall.
By far my favorite character is Marcellus the Octopus. My least favorite is Cameron; although we do see growth he blames everyone and everything else instead of looking at his own actions.The way he behaves can’t entirely be chalked up to not having parental figures, at some point he needs to take accountability for his actions but never does. Quite frustrating!
By far my favorite character is Marcellus the Octopus. My least favorite is Cameron; although we do see growth he blames everyone and everything else instead of looking at his own actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Cancer, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse and Addiction
m_maria's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
The book's action unfolds slowly but leads to quite unexpected events. I loved octopus'es diary entries as a part of the narration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Cancer, and Death
karitoy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide and Drug abuse
moond4ncer's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Suicide
kteliza28's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Listened to this in audiobook format. Honestly almost abandoned it from how slow paced it was and how I wasn’t loving the narrator pitching her voice for Cameron and the tone of the man’s voice used for Marcellus. The first half of the book really focused on Cameron and Tovas lives separately and it was hard to imagine how they ever end up sharing a storyline. I also struggled to see how Marcellus and Tova would ever grow exceptionally close.
This book took a real turn in the second half though when I almost put it down for good. Everything really shifted when the twist was revealed and from there I invested.
The way the story wrapped up so neatly and beautifully really made me change my mind about this book. I was wavering between 3.5 and 4 stars but landed on 4 after Tova and Marcellus’s farewell.
This book took a real turn in the second half though when I almost put it down for good. Everything really shifted when the twist was revealed and from there I invested.
The way the story wrapped up so neatly and beautifully really made me change my mind about this book. I was wavering between 3.5 and 4 stars but landed on 4 after Tova and Marcellus’s farewell.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Death
Minor: Suicide and Cancer
bilkins's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
An enjoyable audiobook experience - loved the voice of Marcellus! I wish he had more screen time in the 2nd half of the book. It was engaging, but rather slow at times. And, the end felt tied together in a cheesy way…the loose ends came together in situations that kind of made me eye roll with a smile. It was a very predictable ending. But overall, a heartwarming story and fairly entertaining.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
waterwomanwinters's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
Absolutely lovely!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Child death, Death, and Abandonment
valegbecerra's review
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
natashalg's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. It is written well, I didn't want to stop reading it, the characters are well developed, and who doesn't love a happy ending? It was a little predictable, especially after about mid-way through the story, but I did not mind at all. I enjoy reading thinking, "will what I thought be true?". It doesn't make the story less wonderful. This is 100% a comfort read, and I think the insights are profoundly deep.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Child death
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Drug abuse
jgillaspie20's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Drug abuse, and Addiction