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izzyluna's review against another edition
emotional
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Outing, and Homophobia
younglyricallit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
bibliocinephile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
gay people.....i love gay people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Bullying
sleepycatreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really loved the premise for this and for the first half of the book I was in love with it. It handles some sensitive topics very well and has great representation.
Personally I just didn’t connect with the writing style, and as the book went on I found this hindered my engagement with it more and more.
Personally I just didn’t connect with the writing style, and as the book went on I found this hindered my engagement with it more and more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
parkyparkpark's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
rachelizx's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
paperbrownies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
- lgbtqiap+, ya contemporary, romance, boys in love, friendship, family
- m|m
- latinx-american gay mc, vietnamese-american gay li, and other queer side characters (gay, lesbian, bisexual and pansexual characters)
" a life fifteen hundred miles away from what’s felt like continual gray and where i can finally be in the sun "
this book was so good??!!!!
idk how to write this review so i'll just make a list of everything that i enjoyed in the book (even though there's not much that i did not enjoy in the book (': )
i. the writing: it's not poetic, it's not fancy it's conversational in such a beautiful way that each sentence presents to us exactly what the character is feeling and i think the compactness yet the fluidity of it is what caught my eye the most!! also the blend of spanish and english was so seamlessly placed into the story, it never posed a problem for non-spanish speakers (like me)!!
ii. exploration of love and joy: there was so much love and joy, there is the platonic love shared by jules' friends (the friendship is. SO. well. written), the love shared between siblings (xo and jules had me sobbing), the joy shared over making a simple meal, the joy that comes when people come together, the joy that comes with owning your life, and being able to live your truth, it was beautiful!!
iii. the simplicity of the story!! we see jules and his friends hitting the beach after school or indulge in activities that were fun yet did not cost much and i think i related to that a lot bc when i was in school me and my friends would always look out for those little adventures, moments that i still treasure and i think that was something the author once again beautifully captured!!
iv. i was a bit skeptical about the twitter crush and how everything would play out since the relationship had to be mostly long distanced but god was i wrong. mat and jules share something that is so precious and tender, i loved reading about them!!!
v. the stan culture mentioned in the pages of the book was absolutely spot on!!
the book deals with some heavy topics and important discussions surrounding what it means to be both queer and latinx, to belong to a community that is so prejudiced against homophobia, the author does an excellent job at deftly handling all of it without leaving space for even a minor slip up!!
a coming-of-age novel written with so much emotion, love and healing, i 100% recommend this book to you!!
lastly the author's note was something that made me very emotional; it ends saying, "so, as the writer of the words that form this journey, i ask you to do me a favor and check in with yourself before starting. and i want you to know that it’s okay if you’re not ready for this book yet. it’s okay if you never are. no hard feelings. te lo prometo y te quiero." *sobs* i cant wait to read more of their work!!
- m|m
- latinx-american gay mc, vietnamese-american gay li, and other queer side characters (gay, lesbian, bisexual and pansexual characters)
" a life fifteen hundred miles away from what’s felt like continual gray and where i can finally be in the sun "
this book was so good??!!!!
idk how to write this review so i'll just make a list of everything that i enjoyed in the book (even though there's not much that i did not enjoy in the book (': )
i. the writing: it's not poetic, it's not fancy it's conversational in such a beautiful way that each sentence presents to us exactly what the character is feeling and i think the compactness yet the fluidity of it is what caught my eye the most!! also the blend of spanish and english was so seamlessly placed into the story, it never posed a problem for non-spanish speakers (like me)!!
ii. exploration of love and joy: there was so much love and joy, there is the platonic love shared by jules' friends (the friendship is. SO. well. written), the love shared between siblings (xo and jules had me sobbing), the joy shared over making a simple meal, the joy that comes when people come together, the joy that comes with owning your life, and being able to live your truth, it was beautiful!!
iii. the simplicity of the story!! we see jules and his friends hitting the beach after school or indulge in activities that were fun yet did not cost much and i think i related to that a lot bc when i was in school me and my friends would always look out for those little adventures, moments that i still treasure and i think that was something the author once again beautifully captured!!
iv. i was a bit skeptical about the twitter crush and how everything would play out since the relationship had to be mostly long distanced but god was i wrong. mat and jules share something that is so precious and tender, i loved reading about them!!!
v. the stan culture mentioned in the pages of the book was absolutely spot on!!
the book deals with some heavy topics and important discussions surrounding what it means to be both queer and latinx, to belong to a community that is so prejudiced against homophobia, the author does an excellent job at deftly handling all of it without leaving space for even a minor slip up!!
a coming-of-age novel written with so much emotion, love and healing, i 100% recommend this book to you!!
lastly the author's note was something that made me very emotional; it ends saying, "so, as the writer of the words that form this journey, i ask you to do me a favor and check in with yourself before starting. and i want you to know that it’s okay if you’re not ready for this book yet. it’s okay if you never are. no hard feelings. te lo prometo y te quiero." *sobs* i cant wait to read more of their work!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Outing, and Physical abuse
biblio_jordyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
“All I wanted was to not hate myself anymore. I spent too much time thinking I was broken. Unnatural. Unlovable. Tiring myself out from trying so hard to be anything else”
Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.
If you are okay with the triggers? READ THIS BOOK.
I devoured to this book in LESS THAN a day and it was equal parts funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.
This is a story about coming out and coming into yourself.
There is a true immersive experience of latinx culture, including food and language and more.
It shows family dynamics of extreme support and the opposite spectrum of none at all.
The story has friend dynamics that will make you want to hold your own and keep them close and thank whatever deity you believe in above.
There’s a romance that will make you aww and swoon.
But in the midst of all this there is also a story about homophobia, being free to be yourself, making hard choices, deciding what you’re willing to sacrifice and so much more.
I think two things that show this book best are lines from the authors note and the dedication:
“To all queer brown boys still waiting for their chance to bloom.”
“The reality that for queer people of color, for Latinxs, Chicanxs, Mexican Americans, joy is very much tied to trauma. Two sides of the same coin that is our lives.”
So again, check the triggers, but if you’re okay with them? I highly recommend this book.
Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.
If you are okay with the triggers? READ THIS BOOK.
I devoured to this book in LESS THAN a day and it was equal parts funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.
This is a story about coming out and coming into yourself.
There is a true immersive experience of latinx culture, including food and language and more.
It shows family dynamics of extreme support and the opposite spectrum of none at all.
The story has friend dynamics that will make you want to hold your own and keep them close and thank whatever deity you believe in above.
There’s a romance that will make you aww and swoon.
But in the midst of all this there is also a story about homophobia, being free to be yourself, making hard choices, deciding what you’re willing to sacrifice and so much more.
I think two things that show this book best are lines from the authors note and the dedication:
“To all queer brown boys still waiting for their chance to bloom.”
“The reality that for queer people of color, for Latinxs, Chicanxs, Mexican Americans, joy is very much tied to trauma. Two sides of the same coin that is our lives.”
So again, check the triggers, but if you’re okay with them? I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Homophobia, Outing, and Abandonment
danielghurst's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa tells the story of Jules, a Mexican American teenager in Texas, who accidentally outs himself as gay on Twitter. In the fallout, Jules's friends and older sister help him through a difficult family situation and achieve his dream of going to college in LA, and an internet crush turns into something more.
The best aspects of the book are in the strong narrative voice and authentic relationships between the teen characters. The level of detail in describing life in the Houston area and within Jules's Latinx family and friend group show obvious care and authenticity. The Los Angeles scenes ring true, as well. The story contains many heartfelt moments that hit home and nails all the feelings of reaching the end of high school. Though it's a minor spoiler to say so, I appreciate this unflinching look at a negative coming out experience and what an abusive parental relationship looks like.
It's a strong debut, and I look forward to what Jonny Garza Villa does next!
The best aspects of the book are in the strong narrative voice and authentic relationships between the teen characters. The level of detail in describing life in the Houston area and within Jules's Latinx family and friend group show obvious care and authenticity. The Los Angeles scenes ring true, as well. The story contains many heartfelt moments that hit home and nails all the feelings of reaching the end of high school. Though it's a minor spoiler to say so, I appreciate this unflinching look at a negative coming out experience and what an abusive parental relationship looks like.
It's a strong debut, and I look forward to what Jonny Garza Villa does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Outing, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Biphobia, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
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