Scan barcode
lindsayd's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Medical content, Vomit, and Terminal illness
bethtrigg'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
Moderate: Medical trauma, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Car accident, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
seubecca's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Car accident, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion, Eating disorder, and Racial slurs
hanbroloo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Ableism and Drug use
ophelie_zl'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
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicide, Pregnancy, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Gun violence
therealjayz'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
The story itself is about two childhood friends who build a video game company together and follows them through the span of like 20+ years. I really really appreciated the representation of so many identities and social issues, from being a woman in STEM (specifically coding), biracial Asian identity, class disparities, disability rep, mental health issues, etc. The way that the author is able to weave together so many small elements in the story that seem at first nonchalant but bring them back later in the most heart-wrenching, gutting, and significant ways should be studied! The creativity demonstrated in the creation of the various video games in the world is astounding and I wish I was able to actually play them. I also appreciate how you don't need to be in gaming culture/know about video games to enjoy this book, but can still appreciate how much research and detail went into the writing about video games in the book.
Zevin really makes you feel with the characters and writes such complex and flawed and lovable characters that you can't help but root and sympathize for even when they act like stubborn, ego-centric idiots at times. I felt like I truly knew the characters as real people and
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism
ccgal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Moderate: Gun violence
mitzee's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Story summary for myself
Sadie and Sam grow up together in their youth and seem to separate around high school/early college - for 6 years. They come back together as young adults and begin to make games together. Both of them are a little bit shit, broken in some ways. Then there’s Marks who is the best of them but also Sam calls him boring/an NPC. He loves them both but ends up having a baby with Sadie. The chapter (or chapters?) in which Marks is shot is told from his PoV when Sam and Sadie are out doing press tour for their new game. I don’t know how Marks knew what to do and how to stay calm in that type of situation. Until that point I was definitely ambivalent about him as a character but after that I really felt like he was the glue that held everything together without anyone even realizing it. Is that the kind of person I want to be?
Moderate: Sexual violence and Gun violence
lambclown's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy
smolfrog'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
4.5
Graphic: Death and Gun violence