Scan barcode
starbeans's review against another edition
cw: child abuse, sexual abuse, heavy drug use, alcoholism, transphobia
I… can't really rate this.
Sneha is a first-generation Indian American woman whose parents have gone back to India, leaving her alone in a foreign country at just 17 years of age. Sneha massively struggles — with her existence as an immigrant, with her queerness, and, honestly, with her gender.
I liked how it handled a lot of its very complex themes. There's a huge amount of friendship, of warmth, of how differently topics surrounding mental illness are still handled throughout the world. Of how differently trauma can resurface in different people, or in the same person at different times. The communist themes spoke to me, but what unfortunately did not, was the transphobia. It got better the longer the book went on, but there was definitely some unresolved gender-questioning going on in Sneha that felt like it was just brushed aside, at least for me.
Still, after having my doubts about this for the first third, I'd recommend reading this!
I… can't really rate this.
Sneha is a first-generation Indian American woman whose parents have gone back to India, leaving her alone in a foreign country at just 17 years of age. Sneha massively struggles — with her existence as an immigrant, with her queerness, and, honestly, with her gender.
I liked how it handled a lot of its very complex themes. There's a huge amount of friendship, of warmth, of how differently topics surrounding mental illness are still handled throughout the world. Of how differently trauma can resurface in different people, or in the same person at different times. The communist themes spoke to me, but what unfortunately did not, was the transphobia. It got better the longer the book went on, but there was definitely some unresolved gender-questioning going on in Sneha that felt like it was just brushed aside, at least for me.
Still, after having my doubts about this for the first third, I'd recommend reading this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Transphobia, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
sammyofthevalley's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This wasn’t my type of book - I don’t usually read sad endings or books which are completely focused on angst. However, I also feel justified in disliking it, as the main character never develops. My FAVORITE part of books is character development, but the only upward motion we see in S is because of a time skip when the development has happened without the reader. I would have liked a lot more payoff for suffering through her situation. But that’s how life is
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Racism, Terminal illness, Deportation, Classism, Addiction, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Drug use, Xenophobia, and Transphobia
tonionnalee's review
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
k_strau's review
I gave this two tries in hopes of it being something that it isn't. Turns out it's using non-binary transphobia as an arbitrary plot point with seemingly no rhyme or reason, I was hoping it would end up being for some character development or actually have a purpose but it doesn't look like it. Did the only reasonable thing an dnf-ed it. We really don't need transphobia in the fictional world in addition to the actual shit show we are already living in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
If you are trans or a trans ally - don't bother.bootsmom3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Transphobia, Alcohol, Deportation, Sexual content, Classism, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, Medical content, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Police brutality and Alcoholism
meemawreads'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
3.0
This book didn't stick with me as a whole. In the month since I read it, I've forgotten the end. I still remember the MC's transphobia that mysteriously resolves with no explanation? I remember how obsessed she is with thin, white women, too. Internalized white supremacy was strong. Hilariously, I also remember starting to root for her to kiss Tom because I am rooting for him... a lesbian book emphasizing my straightness how embarrassing. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend this if you hate dysfunctional relationships and remembering the chaos of your early post-college days. I would recommend this to someone who likes flawed protagonists and appreciates the complications of immigrant family stories. Three taters 🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: Transphobia and Fatphobia
calicos's review
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia and Transphobia
reneereads_'s review
The beginning of the book is very misleading, and I had no idea what I was about to read, but I definitely wasn’t expecting the main character to go on a transphobic rant and have it never mentioned again. My initial thought at first was “is this ignorance going to change by the end?” but after reading several reviews, it doesn’t sound like it. I also noticed the strange descriptions for the Black characters in this book, as well as the main characters “taste” in women (white and thin). Overall, I’m disappointed. Really thought I would like this. The cover is pretty, queer main character, and the plot seemed intriguing enough for me. But it’s not worth my time. And for people relating to her, maybe that’s not such a good thing 😬.
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
epen's review
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
3.5
Prose style a bit choppy for me—it took me some time to get used to. A bit overwritten in that vein sometimes, but not too often; I think the author’s descriptive language and use of literary devices were mostly solid. Complex queer characters and good portrayals of friendship. Dialogue a little off sometimes. Totally gratuitous transphobia toward non-binary people by the protagonist that sort of improved by the end of the novel but not sufficiently for how explicit it initially was.
Loved the portion of the book during which S was with her family in India, and particularly the portions about the plants that grew. Also encouraging for a story to have a coming out arc that didn’t end in disownment.
sometimes felt a little 2018 for a book written in 2022.
Overall enjoyed and would recommend.
sometimes felt a little 2018 for a book written in 2022.
Overall enjoyed and would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Transphobia, and Deportation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Racism
phalanq's review against another edition
Not my nonbinary ass getting jumpscared with nonbinary specific transphobia. Literally edit that out and I’m sure this book would be great. Enjoying it otherwise but I don’t need to read this rn so dnf at 22%. Maybe I’ll try again when trans people have rights.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse