Scan barcode
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Ander and Santi Were Here is a beautifully devastating story about family, heartbreak, joy and love. I adored Ander and Santi and I enjoyed every second of watching their relationship develop. At first, it seems like the book is going to be a light-hearted (and a lil raunchy) queer rom-com but it’s so much more than that. The topics of immigration and deportation are explored in such a profound and impactful way. Those moments in the book were heart-wrenching, I won’t lie I cried a lot, but the hope and love that Ander and Santi had despite everything was so beautiful. I also loved how normalized queerness was in this story. It was so refreshing to see all of Ander’s friends and family not only accept them but also celebrate their identity, and to have a character that is not afraid to be bold and take up space. Coming out stories are definitely important, but it made me happy to have queer joy centered so much in this book. The writing in this story was beautiful, I felt so connected to Ander’s art, their family and their relationship with Santi. This is a powerful read and one you won’t want to miss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
andremay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
I don’t know how coherent I can make this review, considering just how my thoughts are still all over the place, but here it goes, because I just loved this so much, I cannot let it go unreviewed.
This book was like a warm and cozy blanket on a Friday night during the winter. I was hooked just from reading the description on the back and the only reason why it took me days to read it was because I needed time to get my emotions back in check during tumultuous times and preparing myself for the inevitable (which hurt a lot, but thank the universe for the small retrieve during the epilogue), otherwise I would have devoured Ander and Santi’s developing relationship in a couple of hours.
Although I read my (huge) share of romance novels, a lot of the ones that are recommended to me end up being a huge disappointment due to focusing only on the romance and using every plot device to further that relationship without any actual character development, memorable plot lines or chemistry. This one was the complete opposite of what I’ve just described. It provided so much representation through characters without making the reader feel like the author just chose random sexualities and identities to please certain crowds. There were so many insightful quotes that a lot of POC and queer people can relate to, and they bring this sense of belonging and of community which wrapped around me tightly as if this book was my safe haven.
Ander and Santi were flawed teenagers who tried their best to navigate a world that was made to put every possible obstacle in their way and who, in just a few months, had so much personal growth alongside each other.
Gender and sexuality talk was written in such a real way, from Ander’s personal gender expression to Santi’s “I just like pretty people”. They weren’t made to fit usual stereotypes we see so many times in books recommended for having “queer rep”, the characters were simply unapologetically themselves, and a part of them happened not to fit the cishet norms in our society.
I loved the veritable discussions around undocumented immigrants (predominantly from Mexico and mentions of characters from South and Central America), and the characters speaking up against the injustice that kept happening, knowing it may not lead anywhere, but trying nonetheless because they knew they couldn’t be silent no matter what. The reality is as black-and-white as Republicans love to make it seem, and people deserve to live a full life, damned be imaginary borders humans have changed and fought over for centuries. US has been a stolen land for hundreds of years anyways, bold of Americans to feel so righteous when it comes to POC immigrants, with green cards or without.
ICE has been and always will be the real villain in these stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Cursing, Deportation, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Transphobia, Abandonment, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Violence
pitsikakku's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Deportation
Moderate: Trafficking, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content
michelle_my_belle's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Drug use, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
jennikreads's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Kidnapping
carolined314's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.5
A lovely tale of love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation
Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Confinement
roorooreads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
An amazing, emotional, inspirational, heart renching book, that is also filled with happiness, love, family, and art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation
Minor: Sexual content
ashylibrarian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Ander & Santi Were Here is a young adult/new adult book about finding home, finding voice, and finding love. Ander and Santi may be fighting for different things, but together, they learn to use their voice, art, and love to fit into a brutal yet beautiful world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality, Drug use, and Kidnapping
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual content, and Violence
runlaurarun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation
Minor: Sexual content