Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

19 reviews

mysterymom40's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Cursing, Police brutality, and Self harm

Minor: Vomit and Alcohol

Due to some of the content, I would say the audience might range from an older teen to an adult.

pjchappie's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Self harm, Deportation, and Vomit

beb989'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Violence, Alcohol, Mental illness, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism

azyef's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, and Abandonment

Minor: Violence, Blood, and Medical content

amandalorianxo's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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? No

3.0

So I know there is romance in this book but I felt more connected with Pen and Xander when they weren’t being coupley. I liked both of their separate storylines as we experience both their POV’s (more Pen then Xander) Kemp doesn’t shy away from police brutality / mannerisms with immigrants. The slight scare/ horror that you could be deported with a simple stop. The ways in which anxiety and depression could mess with you in more ways than one. I wasn’t the biggest believer in the romance - it felt abrupt without a lot of buildup. Overall, as a debut this was great if you are looking for generational Chicano representation set in Texas. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, and Self harm

Minor: Police brutality and Sexual content

betweentheshelves's review

emotional hopeful medium-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

This YA contemporary definitely packs a lot off issues into it, filed with great characters and references to some delicious food. I think the romance between Pen and Xander unfolds really naturally, and adds to the tone of the story. Plus, the audiobook features a song written for the book, which is pretty cool!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Racism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism and Stalking

wordrevel's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Hate crime

Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, Mental illness, and Abandonment

Minor: Self harm

abbie_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Self harm

marissasbooks's review

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

inkdrinkerpdx's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Penelope Prado wants to follow i her father footsteps, sharing her love of food and Xander Amaro is trying to find a place where he belongs. 

I loved this book!

 I loved how the author didn’t make Pen’s depression+anxiety the main focus of the book but instead it was another aspect of Pen. How she got through her tough and regular moments every day. It’s realistic for the culture and how someone deals with it day to day. Her parents and siblings knew of it but didn’t ask her every moment of every day if she was doing ok. Xander broke my heart. The way both parents essentially abandoned him and he has no ill feelings towards them. He is fighting to find a place where he belongs and has family but at the same time terrified that someone will find out he is undocumented and send him back. 

I also really enjoyed that it has an open ending. Stories like these rarely have a happy ending and this ending felt real.  This story has real things things that happen to undocumented immigrants in this country that stay silent and I liked that the author highlighted that an have no happy ending cause more often times than not there are no happy endings. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm