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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
pretty good story with good plot points and a susinct plot. hammer the absolute asshole (shout out quinola metaphor). some of the characters were actually just fucking annoying (cough zeke). the way girls were treated really badly throughout the whole story by everyone? like a girl is a prude cos she wont put out, but another girl is a slut because she puts out? ok. its possible to have a story about gay guys without making women the butt of every joke and describe them as repulsive. having CHILDREN in sexual situations with adults CONSTANTLY is weird idc.
Alright. This book is everything they say it is. It’s heartbreaking and raw and so wonderfully and horribly truthful. From the very first chapter things start going wrong for Charlie and from there you can’t help but keep asking “how could it get any worse” even though you know all the ways it can and will get worse.
Sheppard’s voice, tone and narrative encapsulates the teenage years so effectively, reminding you what it’s like to be stuck in a world that seems never-ending and all-encompassing.
You don’t have to be gay or male to read this book and find all the truths, horror and love within its pages.
No doubt it will become a modern classic. It’s a must-read for all readers. Highly highly recommend!
Sheppard’s voice, tone and narrative encapsulates the teenage years so effectively, reminding you what it’s like to be stuck in a world that seems never-ending and all-encompassing.
You don’t have to be gay or male to read this book and find all the truths, horror and love within its pages.
No doubt it will become a modern classic. It’s a must-read for all readers. Highly highly recommend!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book took me on such an emotional journey, I couldn't put it down. Focused on the life of a group of teenage boys in a small town who are all struggling to come to terms with fact they are gay or deal with other's reactions, but all who come from different backgrounds; this is a really insightful and confronting. It is raw and real, I think it should be considered essential reading. One of my favourite things about reading is it's ability to put you in another's shoes, this book delivered this 100% which makes it harrowing but amazing. TW- suicide
Some of the characters were too cringey that I couldn't continue. Writing itself was good, but the book was a bit too YA for me.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oof, this was a heavy one and I’m torn on how I feel about it.
Holden Sheppard’s writing style is gorgeous and so easy to read. I really couldn’t put this book down. It just flows so well and the feeling behind it shines through. It’s also so incredibly Australian and that will always be a big draw for me. Aussie stories, Aussie language, always feel so comforting.
The story itself felt incredibly raw and real. These characters felt like the kind of idiot boys I could have gone to school with and a lot of the conversations felt like conversations I could have overheard when I was at school.
And this is what I’m torn on. I want to praise that realistic feel, the way the author hasn’t shied away from shitty teenage boy attitudes and language, the way he hasn’t shied away from small town beliefs and what that can do to a person.
But there was so much casual fat phobia, so much over-sexualisation of minors from adult men, so much awful behaviour that, while unfortunately realistic, just soured the overall vibe for me. I just prefer these kinds of things to be, in some way, addressed as bad things, and it felt as though only the homophobia was treated as a bad thing.
Nonetheless, this was an emotional and thought-provoking read. I recommend checking trigger warnings before giving it a go.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I was excited since this had so many good reviews but I feel like the only reason I was reading it was because of the shock factor… other than that I hate the language that’s used. Maybe I’m a prude but it’s just so raunchy and gritty. It’s reminds me too much of grasshopper jungle which I HATED with a burning passion and I only read an excerpt from that