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midnightbelles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Racism, Classism, Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual harassment and Outing
steffi_lag's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Biphobia, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
crykea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Narrated by Natalie Naudus
Unabridged
A gorgeously queer rivals to lovers cat-and-mouse YA mystery, serving a tie up of Looking for Alaska and Pretty Little Liars, in tone.
My favourite thing about this book was that it had amazing conversation on gender and sexuality, and discussion on how being queer and religious can be difficult but achievable in a small town (with various perspectives on this).
For characters, we don't get direct, present input from Shara until much later in the story but even by the end, I found her to be insufferable. I did warm up to her a little bit, but I just didn't vibe with her attention seeking expoits and how she used people. I really enjoyed getting more of a character breakdown from her and seeing her vulnerabilities unearthed eventually, but I still can't say I liked her.
I felt like Chloe's motives for looking for Shara was too obsessive and strange that it was just to beat her with school grades and becoming the valedictorian. I know there was so much more to it (and I'm glad I stuck around to find this out) but it wasn't a plot development that kept me hooked, especially early on.
I also struggled to see this bad bitch personality that apparently Chloe was known for (as well as the - and I paraphrase this here - 'big-boobed lesbian'). It felt more told than shown and maybe I just couldn't believe that someone can radiate bad bitch energy with such an irritating voice... it just gives the game away.
Talking of voices...
Some of the voices put on were really silly and unbelievable (e.g. Benji and Shara were major examples for this). These times I couldn't help but be pulled out of the narrative. I got used to it eventually but every now and then I'd just stutter-giggle at the absurdity of how they sounded, which is awful when I really think about it....
I adored the banding together of different cliques and the breaking down of social constraints in the face of adversity towards diversity and being unapologetically who you are. That was a bold and beautiful goal that I think the author smoothly curved the direction towards being the overarching narrative.
I throughly enjoyed the last 35% of the story more than the actual hide and seek of the main storyline and if we had more that then this would probably have been more loved from me, but I understand that this would then be a very different book...
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Body shaming
ergaich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I think this book also did a great job of dealing with the intersection of religion and queer identity without writing anything remotely triggering. It’s important that the story is representative of our world, but the author was awesome about not making it graphic and traumatic.
Minor: Biphobia, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
tisya'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: Homophobia and Biphobia
sophie42'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
3.75
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol
lorriss'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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gaslighting, Outing, Blood, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, Hate crime, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, Abortion, and Racism
alrauna'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
My favourite moment was
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Biphobia
jessicasophie's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Biphobia
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Homophobia