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zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Bullying, Infidelity, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Blood
bookrokosmos'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
Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Classism
thenovelmaura'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
3.5
I enjoyed the dual timeline and how Forest used it to give us perspective into the thoughts of some side characters. For me, the mystery aspect wasn't so much "did they run away" as it was "why did they break up in the first place?" (and of course, "what happened on Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day??"). Kai in particular was a strong, multi-faceted character and the reader is given a lot of insight into the pressure he puts on himself to appear "perfect" through his talks with his therapist. Throughout the book, Kai demonstrated the non-linear nature of grief due to the loss of his parents, which is such important representation for YA literature to have. I also appreciated the complexity of the relationships that Zyla had with her mom and dad, showing that you can love and respect people without agreeing with all of their life choices.
Finally, I want to add that the overall story was really cute! Not as lighthearted as her previous books, given the aforementioned topics, but Kai and Zyla were both sweethearts who made me think of my own first love and how exciting it was. This book is sex-positive, features strong friendships, and takes place in New Jersey (with a few jaunts into Philly), which I loved. If you're looking for a YA romance that takes a thoughtful approach to some really tough topics, then this book could be a great choice for you or a teen in your life.
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
Depressionsamone2'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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Classism
phua_jieying's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Classism
betweentheshelves'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
3.0
What got me is that it felt like was too long. There is a bit of a mystery behind the romance, even if the end result is a bit predictable. I think some of the relationship drama could have been cut out and the book would have still worked as an overall story. Also, it has my least favorite miscommunication/assumation about something without talking, so there's that. Out of all the romance tropes, I dislike that one the most. Just talk to each other!!!
Anyway, this is a great, fun romance read for the summer, especially if you don't mind them a little on the longer side!
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying
psistillreadyou'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
4.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent and Bullying