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summerfalkenrath'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
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
lovosii'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
knlipke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
lunarlibra'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
4.75
Picked this up on a whim and devoured it. I had such a hard time putting it down! The characters have real flaws that we see them address and grapple with, we have reluctant allies to good friends, we have sapphic yearning, and a group of teenagers coming into their own.
It's so good and so many things, while also being straightforward enough to read (relatively) quickly and even pick up on the crumbs of foreshadowing scattered throughout.
I feel like it's about, in no particular order,:
- first love
- healing from first love and finding true love
- learning to stand up for what you believe in
- queer solidarity
- (in some ways) queer mentorship, like when you make your first gay friend or when a baby gay learns from people who maybe never had the option to be in the closet
- the political and personal importance of coming out of the closet (even if just to yourself)
- the power of friendship
- learning to be brave
- the pain of parental pressures and disappointment
- the almost-miraculous feeling of having your first gay kiss (especially after believing you'd never get to experience it)
- learning from stories and myths while keeping a keen eye on the present reality
- the beauty and strength of platonic relationships!!!
- Did I mention the power of friendship?
- "changing for love" not in a shallow and misogynistic way, but in the sense of being inspired by someone you respect to work on personal growth
The writing is evocative, funny, and heartfelt. It felt personal to me and like a completely new story.
It would be a 5 stars read for me if not for one of my pet peeves, which is "miscommunication as the source of drama/conflict". It made sense in the context of the characters, and was somewhat short lived, and given how it wound up fitting into the character development of both of the main characters, so I might change my mind and say it is a five-star read after all.
This book gave me the emotion that makes me love reading, and love books. I can't wait to read the author's other works!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
lizzyswingle's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and War
cowahbull's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and War
readingpicnic's review
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Lesbophobia
mrsherrera'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
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
audreyau3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Body horror, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
jennikreads's review
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War