Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

2 reviews

issyd23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Really Good, Actually is the better breakup book. Wish we got more of Jen’s perspective Andy was intolerable and not as funny as Maggie from Really Good 3🎭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Classism, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

4.5 stars. About halfway through GOOD MATERIAL, I was worried. Not because it isn't well-written (Alderton always delivers on that front) nor because it isn't funny (it has the makings of a rom-com all over it), but because I couldn't figure out why Alderton—my queen of acknowledging and celebrating the lives of single women—had written this particular book about a 30-something man grieving a hefty breakup.

But then! You reach the last third of the book, and the perspective shifts, and it all starts to make sense. To structure it this way is a risk, but it pays off. The perfect companion to another book I read recently and loved: Amy Key's ARRANGEMENTS IN BLUE, for both invite us readers to think about life where marriage is not the end goal.

Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Pregnancy and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity and Sexism