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nightmarebees's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“There is no one so broken they are completely unsalvageable. There is no life so hopeless tomorrow can’t be at least a little better.”
i’m gonna be thinking about this one for a while. the first half i could tell i’d need to pace myself for the heartache, but by the second half i sped through bc i HAD to know what would happen. this author’s writing is so simple and yet poetic: they give voice to things i’ve often felt but haven’t had the words for. i’ve been lucky enough to get treatment for my comorbid conditions, but avery’s narration perfectly captures how clinical depression feels.
“‘Why is anyone depressed?’ Hell if I knew. It was in the soul of who I was as a person. It wasn’t something that had roots and therefore a way to weed it out.”
the flashbacks tracing avery and cass’s friendship from the ache of figuring out to the realization they’ve loved each other all along. avery’s relationship with aisha. TEDDY. the ways people grow more vicious or more loving when they realize they have nothing left to lose.
i’m glad i went into this knowing it would be an open ending, bc i was able to prepare myself for it. this isn’t the kind of story that’s about resolution, because mental health is never fully resolved. you just choose to keep trying.
i’m gonna be thinking about this one for a while. the first half i could tell i’d need to pace myself for the heartache, but by the second half i sped through bc i HAD to know what would happen. this author’s writing is so simple and yet poetic: they give voice to things i’ve often felt but haven’t had the words for. i’ve been lucky enough to get treatment for my comorbid conditions, but avery’s narration perfectly captures how clinical depression feels.
“‘Why is anyone depressed?’ Hell if I knew. It was in the soul of who I was as a person. It wasn’t something that had roots and therefore a way to weed it out.”
the flashbacks tracing avery and cass’s friendship from the ache of figuring out to the realization they’ve loved each other all along. avery’s relationship with aisha. TEDDY. the ways people grow more vicious or more loving when they realize they have nothing left to lose.
i’m glad i went into this knowing it would be an open ending, bc i was able to prepare myself for it. this isn’t the kind of story that’s about resolution, because mental health is never fully resolved. you just choose to keep trying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content
brittknee52's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
arisyes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Mental illness
fairynanook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Really good read. Harrowing look at depression that can be triggering at times, but I greatly enjoyed the family and friend dynamics in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicide, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Drug use
spaghettii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
5.0
Incredibly well written. One of few books that has made me cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Chronic illness, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Death, and Suicide attempt
saskiajva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
At it’s heart, this is a beautiful and poignant story of a girl struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, finding her way back to herself. Finding ways to feel the love and beauty she’s already surrounded with that she has not been able to feel for so long, accepting herself, finding how to finally live for yourself and no one else. Finding hope amidst despair, and learning how to let others in. It’s about a love story for the ages, one that feels like it might just withstand the end of the world.
I originally picked it up after having it recommended on Facebook as “a book that will rip your heart out and have you sobbing”. And while it is want nearly as devastating as i had expected and hoped, i think it will be heartbreakingly beautiful and hopeful for people who resonate with the main character more. This book is for people who feel an unending abyss of pain, one that feels like it has no beginning or end, no rhyme or reason, no way out. For the people that don’t know how to love themselves, who feel shunned by their families, their communities, and their religion. The ending was not what i expected, and while i originally felt like it wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped, i think the author did an amazing job staying true to her characters and was so thoughtful and careful about the messages she wanted to send about depression and suicide. About needing yourself just as much as you need others.
I loved every character in this book, and each story has so much to say about love, family (found and born), and happiness.
I originally picked it up after having it recommended on Facebook as “a book that will rip your heart out and have you sobbing”. And while it is want nearly as devastating as i had expected and hoped, i think it will be heartbreakingly beautiful and hopeful for people who resonate with the main character more. This book is for people who feel an unending abyss of pain, one that feels like it has no beginning or end, no rhyme or reason, no way out. For the people that don’t know how to love themselves, who feel shunned by their families, their communities, and their religion. The ending was not what i expected, and while i originally felt like it wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped, i think the author did an amazing job staying true to her characters and was so thoughtful and careful about the messages she wanted to send about depression and suicide. About needing yourself just as much as you need others.
I loved every character in this book, and each story has so much to say about love, family (found and born), and happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Alcohol and Death
falibat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
Minor: Gun violence
elenaforgetsaboutherbooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
adrianas65's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
saxy_lady's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.75
This book was a HEAVY read, make no mistake. But I related so much to the main character it shook me to my core. Not only does this book depict a beautiful and yearning sapphic romance, but it also takes a good hard look at depression. This may be the most accurately depicted depression I have seen in quite a while. I remember sitting and reading this and thinking “I feel/felt the same way!!!”
This book is not for everyone. It triggered me a little bit, but FOR ME it was SO WORTH IT. There are resources in the back of the book for numerous agencies that help LGBT youth and those suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Ultimately, you know yourself better than anyone. If reading about depression and suicidal ideation is going to be an issue. There’s no shame in skipping it. But if you can do it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. I don’t think a book has made me feel this much in a long time.
This book is not for everyone. It triggered me a little bit, but FOR ME it was SO WORTH IT. There are resources in the back of the book for numerous agencies that help LGBT youth and those suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Ultimately, you know yourself better than anyone. If reading about depression and suicidal ideation is going to be an issue. There’s no shame in skipping it. But if you can do it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. I don’t think a book has made me feel this much in a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt