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skudiklier'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
4.75
It's a bit bittersweet because I've only recently become fully aware of the extent of Rainbow Rowell's issues--namely, her racism in her earlier book Eleanor & Park, and her subsequent lack of apology or any form of acknowledgement of the harm she's caused. Eleanor & Park continues to be her most well-known and successful work, and it's being adapted into a movie, and Rowell still hasn't done *anything* to make up for its racism. Which is inexcusable, and leads me to think I shouldn't support her or her work moving forward.
That said, I do love this series. If I were to think of this book without that knowledge of Rowell's racism in her other work, then I would unreservedly recommend this trilogy, and say this book was my favorite of the three. It's so much about intimacy, and healing, and how to make relationships work, and family, and I cried even when I didn't need to at all. It was beautiful.
But I don't believe the art and the artist can be separated like that--not when she has refused to listen to those she's harmed, or acknowledged said harm at all. I don't think Rowell or her work should be supported, at least for now. I won't be buying any of her future books unless she fully reckons with the harm her racism has caused.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Cursing
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide attempt
claudiamacpherson'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
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Gaslighting
cuppa_curiositea'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
Anyway! This was fun, just like the other books. I don't care about Agatha's arc, just like the other books (though I warmed up to her very slightly by the end of the book). The plot is okay, just like the other books. And all of the characters (except Agatha) are so lovable and silly, just like the other books :)
The second book of this trilogy was definitely the weakest, but this one had me laughing crying with the characters throughout it all! I listened to this on audiobook, and the narrator is phenomenal. I've never been a "fan" of a narrator before, but I looked up more of his work just because I love the way he tells stories. I digress, Rowell's characters have always been stronger and more interesting than her plots, in my opinion, and I really felt for Simon's struggles with PTSD in this book. His emotional struggles were so raw and real, and I really appreciated seeing that side of "the hero/chosen one" trope. Of course Baz says some cute romantic things that make me swoon, and everything is tied up satisfyingly, in my opinion :)
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
manarnia'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: Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Grief and Homophobia
vici24kl'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
4.5
Moderate: Mental illness, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
bethanlcollins's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent
mairallen1114's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
death of a parent is mentioned in regards to baz's mother, simon's parents, and a new character's parents (who died in a car accident). abandonment is implied whenalyxinthestars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
delz'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
Moderate: Death of parent
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Medical content, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, and Violence