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evacolline97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Outing, and Toxic relationship
insanelyfruity's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
"You were looking at Tom without smiling, with an expression of deep absorption. You considered him, in the same way that others in the room were considering the displays."
I think the quote above sums up the relationships between the characters very well.
it took me a while to read this book because I could feel just how sad it was and that made it hard for me to read. everytime I picked up the book I was immediately engrossed and wanted to know what would happen but I had to pace out the reading for the sake of my mental peace.
this book is so gorgeously written and even though I wasn't alive in Brighton in the 50s-60s, I'm sure it's very accurate about the time period it mentions. I'm so glad that the author chose to deal with a sensitive topic like this with the proper care and respect by doing research and not romanticising terrible moments in history. the movie recently came out and I think because of all the details in the book, the book is more impactful than the movie.
I am so glad I stuck with this book. definitely would recommend.
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Death
averagemark's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Outing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, and Pregnancy
literallyliterature's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Hate crime, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism, Death, Cursing, Police brutality, Bullying, and Suicide
mallory10100's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Outing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Cursing, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Bullying, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Confinement, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Miscarriage, and War
can’t wait for the movie to come out!!yasaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
But I hated -and will continue doing so- homophobia.
Do you know how many lives are ruined every year, because the majority of the people cannot withstand two adults liking each other?
Fuck homophobia. And fuck homophobes.
Graphic: Police brutality, Outing, Bullying, Sexual content, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Violence
maxella's review against another edition
- 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
I love how flawed and real every caracter was. I love how angry this book made me. I loved how the writer managed to tie all the ends together in the end of the book.
I think that at some point I managed to love and hate (with my whole heart) each of the main caracters.
But really, this has been such an informative book towards queer history and made me think about our current time and what we consider to be taboo right now, might just be the most normal thing in just a couple of years.
*SPOILERS*
My most favourite caracter has to be Julia. What a wonderful person.
I loved that the book didn't only concentrate on the gay aspect of the 50s, even if briefly, it also touched the subject of what it was like to be a lesbian/bisexual back then. Honestly I'd love to be friends with a person like Julia. She was such a cheerful, polite and uplifting caracter. I think it's great that in the end Marion actually decided to apologise to her and hear out her part of the story.
Patrick, oh they don't deserve you. Why would you ever fall for a guy like Tom, I don't get.
What a wonderful caracter. I especially loved his relationship he had with his mother. The sassiness was just so good.
"Good. Now what's going on in filthy old Brighton? Are you behaving yourself?"
"Certainly not."
She uncurled her best devilish smile. "Marvellous. Let's have a drink and you can tell me all about it."
I'd love to try one of his dishes. Some parts of the book where his food was being described, I got so hungry!
Me and him would have a lot to talk about since we're both interested in books, art, music and italian cooking. I hate seeing my favourite caracters being s**t all over but I guess it's harder to get the reader's sympathy when terrible things happend to terrible caracters.
I absolutely despised Tom's and Marion's caracters. So much problematic bulls**t going on there, so I'll keep it brief. Tom was a bitter, misogynistic ass bi**h and Marion was just straight up dumb smh.... Actually you know, Marion was also quite bitter most of the time, so they make a great match I guess.
I guess times were different back then so I'll forgive some of the dumbness even though I'm sure they would still be considered assholes back then.
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence