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reggiereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
he's 15, she's 13/14.
(timeskip)
he's 19, she's 17.
i have no doubt that they do care about each other and their relationship is real but i just cringe when i think about it.
Graphic: Vomit, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Suicide
amylovesbooksandyarn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I listened to this on audio and it took me a while to get into in the younger years but as the characters got older it really started to enhance the story.
This is a YA book but it covers some very serious topics, the justice system, social inequality, racism, suicide, the death penalty to name a few.
The story is told from both Sephie and Callums perspective and we get their thoughts and emotions. The inner monologue is always something you can have in books but not as easily in TV format so this does create a more emotive read rather than watch.
There were bits I didn't see coming which is always great in a read. I would definitely get the next in the series
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Suicide, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Rape
keelan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gun violence, and Hate crime
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, and Child abuse
emmagalt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Classism, Hate crime, Death of parent, Colonisation, Death, Racism, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
theknitterwithabook'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
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
izzyvioletgrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Stalking, Violence, Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Bullying, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Genocide, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Torture, Abortion, Blood, and Addiction
chuubisous'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? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicide
karol99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Slavery, Physical abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The adolescent nature of the writing also lulled me into a false sense of security, thinking that the story might gloss over some of the more unpleasant ideas explored. But it hits them head on, pulling no punches, and renders them all the more shocking as a result. But as the story went further and Sephy and Callum grew older, I started to feel the writing pulling me out of the action again. It seems like it was a really hard balance to strike.
That said, none of it takes anything from the phenomenal story and the brutal world these characters live in. What's so clever is that neither Callum nor Sephy knows the right or wrong way to behave to encourage change; and even when they try it can backfire spectacularly when prejudice is so ingrained. It's fascinating and infuriating, which you can see so well as they change with age.
After the incredibly tense ending, I'm intrigued to see where the rest of the series takes the story!
Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Kidnapping