Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - All This Could Be Different

Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

47 reviews

isareader's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

As many others voiced in the reviews, the beginning of this book was the most difficult for me to enjoy — I found the protagonist a little immature and her views and irrational outbursts hard to understand… but maybe this is just a reflection of what it is like to be young…

The most impressive and heart-warming part of the book to me is the importance of platonic love and close friendship. The love the friends have for the protagonist is so dearly touching, and to me, more enjoyable than the romance aspect in the book.

My biggest critique and issue with the book was how many serious topics (see content warnings) are attempted to be covered in the book and seem too glossed over to me, especially the struggle with mental health and political struggles. Though perhaps this is also just a hard-hitting reality.

Overall, an impressive & quite beautifully-written first novel of Matthews with an overall theme of longing and a representation of so many characters that we don’t often read about.

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kebpoet's review

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Fatphobia and transphobia in the first 100 pages was a no from me

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ienbdri's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The first 100 pages were so hard to get through I almost DNFd multiple times. The main character is so deeply unlikable that I just wanted to hit her and nothing else. But after getting to know her and her social circle and her struggles, the book definitely picked up for me. I didn't fully love the story but I can appreciate what the author tried to do and while the pacing was still a bit weird I really like the deep dive the author did into immigrant problems and growing up and the struggles and pressure that come with it.

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alexture's review against another edition

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It didn't rock my world but it was nice enough. glad the protagonist worked on her casual transphobia.

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sxndaze's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

The second half of the book is what really captured me. The writing is gorgeous and really draws you in. Reading about Sneha’s experiences and the micro aggressions and the struggles and racism is all too relatable as someone who is starting out in the world. But it’s hard to get past the transphobia and fatphobia and centering of whiteness. I don’t care for Marina. But the found family aspect is lovely.

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marinabkat's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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lifewithjoce's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring slow-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

4.0

in search of a Tig to help me start a commune

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stevie_in_the_stacks's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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bodiesinbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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mjwhitlock18's review

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challenging emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A coming-of-age style story about a millennial queer South Asian immigrant to America, just trying to find her way and not disappoint her parents and friends. It is a mix of feelings, sweet but sharp, sad but hopeful. These characters are real, vivid, complex, and honestly messy and sometimes unlikeable. The main character, Sneha, is blunt, stubborn, independent, scared, uncertain, but also worthy of love (which she has to figure out). Mathews’ writing is impeccable with poignant social commentary and witty prose. I loved the explorations of these relationships, and while the ending didn’t feel perfectly tied up, that’s just life. Honestly, my biggest gripe is that this writer doesn’t use quotation marks for diologue, and that truly confused me sometimes.

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