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em_of_swags'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? Yes
4.5
while I found Chloe annoying at first, I've really grown attached to all those little gay characters.
this should kinda be mandatory reading for queer high schoolers who feel let down by the world
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Outing, and Bullying
violetbooklover'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
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
lizard007's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Infidelity, Outing, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
adrienreads'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
2.75
The characters are often unlikeable, but in a sort of "I'm in this picture and I don't like it" way - definitely relatable to the ways teenagers can be flawed, at least retrospectively for me. That meant that sometimes it was cathartic, but a lot of the time I was just kind of miserable.
I don't usually enjoy this type of book, so don't take my review too seriously if you do. There is a lot of heart put into this book by the author, so if the premise appeals to you, might be worth giving it a try.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism and Outing
midnightbelles'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
3.5
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Racism, Classism, Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual harassment and Outing
gen_wolfhailstorm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Narrated by Natalie Naudus
Unabridged
A gorgeously queer rivals to lovers cat-and-mouse YA mystery, serving a tie up of Looking for Alaska and Pretty Little Liars, in tone.
My favourite thing about this book was that it had amazing conversation on gender and sexuality, and discussion on how being queer and religious can be difficult but achievable in a small town (with various perspectives on this).
For characters, we don't get direct, present input from Shara until much later in the story but even by the end, I found her to be insufferable. I did warm up to her a little bit, but I just didn't vibe with her attention seeking expoits and how she used people. I really enjoyed getting more of a character breakdown from her and seeing her vulnerabilities unearthed eventually, but I still can't say I liked her.
I felt like Chloe's motives for looking for Shara was too obsessive and strange that it was just to beat her with school grades and becoming the valedictorian. I know there was so much more to it (and I'm glad I stuck around to find this out) but it wasn't a plot development that kept me hooked, especially early on.
I also struggled to see this bad bitch personality that apparently Chloe was known for (as well as the - and I paraphrase this here - 'big-boobed lesbian'). It felt more told than shown and maybe I just couldn't believe that someone can radiate bad bitch energy with such an irritating voice... it just gives the game away.
Talking of voices...
Some of the voices put on were really silly and unbelievable (e.g. Benji and Shara were major examples for this). These times I couldn't help but be pulled out of the narrative. I got used to it eventually but every now and then I'd just stutter-giggle at the absurdity of how they sounded, which is awful when I really think about it....
I adored the banding together of different cliques and the breaking down of social constraints in the face of adversity towards diversity and being unapologetically who you are. That was a bold and beautiful goal that I think the author smoothly curved the direction towards being the overarching narrative.
I throughly enjoyed the last 35% of the story more than the actual hide and seek of the main storyline and if we had more that then this would probably have been more loved from me, but I understand that this would then be a very different book...
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Body shaming
novella42'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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
lolamosk's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Classism, Bullying, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
trayslays's review
- 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? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Gaslighting, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol
slyveimaeve'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
2.5
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Toxic friendship