Reviews with content warning for Death - A Complicated Love Story Set in Space

Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson

24 reviews

queer_bookwyrm's review

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5 ⭐ CW: death, sexual assault

A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson is a YA scifi romance that was recommended to me by an irl friend. This was a wild read, but I felt there were some things left unresolved. This may be because I tend to be more invested in the plot and world-building than on romance.

We follow Noa North, who wakes up in space outside of a ship. He doesn't remember how he got there, but suddenly he has to figure out how to repair a spaceship with the help of a voice that belongs to a boy named DJ. Noa and DJ have no idea what is happening or how they got aboard the ship Qriosity, and they find a girl Jenny who is also inexplicably trapped there. The three of them must keep the ship from blowing up all while figuring out what is going on and how to get back home.

The relationship between Noa and DJ is definitely the focal point of the story. I love a good gays in space story, but I felt I needed a little bit more from it. I found Noa incredibly annoying, and I wanted way more development from Jenny who was actually a bisexual badass. I truly didn't expect the twist that came, but it mostly felt incomplete when we don't get an explanation or follow up on the universe that was created. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about it, but I thought the ending was unsatisfactory.

We do get some interesting themes on exploitation of child actors, bury your gays and fridging tropes. It almost feels like this book needs a sequel to flesh out what has been teased to give the story more depth. If you enjoy a good gays in space romp that isn't too heavy hitting, this is good for that. Minus the discussions of sexual assault, I would be wary of that if that's something you are sensitive about.

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vagaybond's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense

Diverse cast of characters? No

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duntothewood's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.25

I won't write a lot as it is a book you need to go in blind to, to fully enjoy.

The plot really only starts about 100 pages in and it is a continual set of story beats from there. The main character Noa starts off as an arsehole and you will be amazed that anyone likes him; he goes through some very good character development as he is a redeemable character by the end of the book.

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deanbaghdadi's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-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

4.5

Hutchinson always likes to add twists to his stories and he didn’t forego his pattern with this book. The tense situations mixed with lighthearted comedy strung together a beautiful story about overcoming past trauma and understanding how to love.

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augustar14's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

If you like stories that feel like multiple stories with the same characters in one book...
If you like sci-fi stories where something's not quite right, but you're not sure exactly what...
If you like gay romance combined with mindfucks, the most irritating AI you'll ever meet, and figuring out how to send a big 'ol middle finger to The System...
You'll enjoy A Complicated Love Story Set in Space.

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