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silverbirch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.0
Focusses on a family in Ireland, whose father has connections in a violent mafia. The two sons have a diverging path, one of whom struggled to separate his morals from his father, one of whom becomes terminally ill with cancer. While in theory this book was interesting, I found it hard to connect with the characters or feel emotional in places where it was obvious I should.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cancer, and Gun violence
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really wanted to like this book, especially considering how alluring the title was. Speaking of the title, I'd like to state that this title is quite misleading on what this book was about. Initially, I thought this book was going to explore the depths of how toxic masculinity affects the youth and how its conditioning has shaped previous generations. Although the author does displays events that depict toxic masculinity she never dives into how those principles and actions affect the main characters at all. Putting the misleading title aside, this book was actually a story about how gang culture shaped a family and its community as well as depicting the battles one faces when faced with a terminal illness.
I understand how many found this story emotional and a phenomenal piece on Dublin and the effects of gang culture and how classism plays a role. However, I felt like the issues this book was tackling were very surface-level. Joe didn't seem like a flushed-out enough character in my opinion and I don't we got enough insight into his grieving for his brother. Also, I was expecting more emotional interactions with the two brothers considering the blurb portrayed them to be very close.
I'd also like to point out that I'm not familiar with Dublin culture so many of the phrases used were very unfamiliar to me and I just didn't vibe with the way that this book was written. And the ending of this book felt very underwhelming and inconclusive What happened to his dad? Also, I'm confused about the shooting. Did he shoot his friend? I was very confused throughout a few parts of this book. Overall, the book just felt pretty surface-level and just didn't live up to what its potential in my opinion.
I understand how many found this story emotional and a phenomenal piece on Dublin and the effects of gang culture and how classism plays a role. However, I felt like the issues this book was tackling were very surface-level. Joe didn't seem like a flushed-out enough character in my opinion and I don't we got enough insight into his grieving for his brother. Also, I was expecting more emotional interactions with the two brothers considering the blurb portrayed them to be very close.
I'd also like to point out that I'm not familiar with Dublin culture so many of the phrases used were very unfamiliar to me and I just didn't vibe with the way that this book was written. And the ending of this book felt very underwhelming and inconclusive
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Gun violence, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Domestic abuse
ashalinggg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Death
writingcaia's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
When poverty and crime are your birthrights, even if you’re the smartest your family has seen and granted a scholarship to the Irish high society kid’s private school, how can you protect those you love without turning into your bully, crime boss crony, misogynistic, wife beater father? How can you face the most hurtful loss and still go on and mingle with the entitled rich kids who knowing your father, like the poor ones of your neighbourhood, only expect you to follow in his footsteps?
This book is a portrayal of loss, sudden, and cruel, and of the poverty and crime cycle which is as shown very hard to escape, hard to survive, no matter if you’re given other opportunities, which shows how strong the pull of family and expectations are, that one can turn away from the chance to leave the slums behind just to fit into the expected role and future.
From the beginning you know it’s going to hurt, it hurts from the get go.
Beautiful writing, and very insightful story. Loved it! Only wish it went on… it’s my own preference for longer books, longer endings.
This book is a portrayal of loss, sudden, and cruel, and of the poverty and crime cycle which is as shown very hard to escape, hard to survive, no matter if you’re given other opportunities, which shows how strong the pull of family and expectations are, that one can turn away from the chance to leave the slums behind just to fit into the expected role and future.
From the beginning you know it’s going to hurt, it hurts from the get go.
Beautiful writing, and very insightful story. Loved it! Only wish it went on… it’s my own preference for longer books, longer endings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Medical content, Classism, Terminal illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
lotties_booked's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual harassment and Gun violence
roemfr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Violence, Death, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
aquaria127's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Boys Don't Cry is the stunning debut novel from Fiona Scarlett. It tells the story of Joe and Finn, two young brothers living in the flats in inner city Dublin and follows their struggles as they learn to live with a father who is heavily involved in the local crime gang, a mother who is trying to hold it all together and a shocking cancer diagnosis that has devastating effects.
This heartbreakingly beautiful and tender story is told with alternating chapters from each of the boys perspectives. This was so affective as it allows the reader to see the varied themes (poverty, crime, domestic violence, cancer & grief) through each of the boys eyes.
The writing is tender yet captivating. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and had to finish it in one sitting. Fiona beautifully portrays the unbreakable bond between Joe and Finn and just how besotted they are with each other.
I also really enjoyed the female characters within this book, each one appeared to be trying to cope with the hand they had been dealt and made often hard choices to try to better themselves and those around them.
This is a gorgeous story, brimming with equal amounts of love and sorrow that will stay with me for a long time to come.
This heartbreakingly beautiful and tender story is told with alternating chapters from each of the boys perspectives. This was so affective as it allows the reader to see the varied themes (poverty, crime, domestic violence, cancer & grief) through each of the boys eyes.
The writing is tender yet captivating. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and had to finish it in one sitting. Fiona beautifully portrays the unbreakable bond between Joe and Finn and just how besotted they are with each other.
I also really enjoyed the female characters within this book, each one appeared to be trying to cope with the hand they had been dealt and made often hard choices to try to better themselves and those around them.
This is a gorgeous story, brimming with equal amounts of love and sorrow that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
helendipietro's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
A fantastic debut novel from Fiona Scarlett – a full-time primary school teacher from Dublin - that had me captivated the entire time. This is definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year because it had me sobbing which just shows how powerful the writing is. I absolutely loved how the narrative was told from two perspectives throughout - Finn (12) and Joe (17) - two brothers living in Dublin navigating their difficult lives with family, society and health pressures. Scarlett’s writing style is beautiful; she conveys such depth and emotion even when writing as a young child. The story is raw, honest and authentic to the bone. Although it broke my heart, it also had me laughing and feeling full of love and warmth.
‘Boys Don’t Cry’ is such a special book and one that will stay with me for years to come. Although only a short story at 238 pages, so much is packed in there and the pace moves the story on well; at times it feels like a thriller! 100% recommend this book :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Violence
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