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nightstitch96'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
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
mel_muses'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
4.5
”If you still recognize me, I must be doing something right. It means I haven’t changed so much that I’m no longer myself after all.”
IYSRM follows Elsie, a bi girl in the UK who has just one summer before starting at Cambridge for uni. Elsie is determined to use this summer to finally admit her crush on her Internet best friend, Ada. But then her childhood best friend comes back into the picture and Elsie’s summer turns into a whirlwind of evolving feelings, family secrets, and an attempt at reconnecting long-lost loves.
Elsie has so much of me: a queer girl who struggles to make friends, but when she does, it’s with her whole heart. An awkward person who uses fanfiction and fandom as an escape from her life, as something to keep her going. Even in our differences, there’s something about her that’s striking: where I’m obsessed with mounds of queer books, she’s obsessed with a queer-coded comic series. And as someone who is also academically-driven, I felt her need to escape into fiction in such a matter of fact way. Where I don’t crush on people, Elsie most certainly is in love with Ada. I can relate to that feeling of loving someone across thousands of miles, even if it isn’t romantic.
There are also so many parts of Elsie I don’t — and can’t — understand. I am not Chinese like Elsie, nor do I have trauma from a toxic relationship like she does. But the fact that she exists for other people too and has touched the lives of my friends — Meilin and Naomi, who I read this with, and Micah and Cel, who I associate with this story — makes this book needed.
But beyond the characters, I loved the journey Elsie goes on, trying to reconcile who she was with who she is with who she wants to be. The romance, the friendships, the family relationships are all handled with such nuance and care. There’s something so special about how feelings evolve, how they can bloom into something unexpected and make you realize some of the most personal discoveries.
This book is for all Elsies out there: I hope you find that there will always be someone who recognizes you.
Trigger Warnings: homophobia and biphobia (internalized, targeted, microaggressions), toxic relationship recounted, off-page grandparent death, off-page disownment, internalized racism, fetish for Asian women by an off-page side character
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death
sammy_nor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship
nostarsleftinthesky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
At its core, this book is a study of Hong Kong to England immigrant families, which definitely made it hard hitting for me at times but it's written so hopefully and dove into all of the good and bad and in-between of growing up in a household such as Elise or Joan's. At the end of the day I just want to give all of the characters (especially the Chinese ones) a hug:(
Cynthia really sets the example for writing something that can resonate with everyone no matter if you're queer, Chinese, affected by generational trauma or not. Because at the end of the day, the bonds between the characters really make this book, and I love any media that reminds me how beautiful love of all kinds can be.
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
axel_p's review
- 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
Minor: Death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Biphobia, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
purplesaturday'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
4.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia
emily_mh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Death, Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug use
Major: disownment Moderate: loss of a loved one Minor: divorce, climate change, menstruationemilycrowleyyy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
emilo's review
- 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
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
miloblue's review
- 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? No
5.0
I think, if you like the cute ensemble cast of Heartstopper then you might find affinity and enjoyment with this. And yes, the ending is happy enough. 🥰🥰
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism and Emotional abuse