Reviews

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

lit_laugh_luv's review against another edition

3.0

I have a lot of respect for this book - it highlights the AIDS epidemic with dignity and grit that doesn’t shy away from the harsh lived experiences of people who were diagnosed and those around them. With that said - I didn’t feel much emotional draw to the characters in this book, and it felt a bit one note in its delivery.

I enjoyed the subversion on the typical queer coming of age story (returning from the big city) - but the setting felt a bit hollow for me. Jess’ character arc was particularly odd to me - it tries to accomplish a lot of things, but most of them don’t pay off and it felt increasingly muddled. Otherwise most characters felt very one-note in their perspective on Brian and they felt more like literary devices than realized people.

I would have appreciated more of Brian’s insight and a more streamlined resolution to the events of the novel to have a bigger emotional payoff. The ending feels like it’s looming the entirety of the book, but by the time it arrives I felt ready to put this down.

Overall - by no means a bad book, and does a great job portraying a very sensitive (but necessary) part of queer history. I’d still recommend this, but unfortunately the characters and plot didn’t really resonate with me.

pleasereadittome's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bbratmafia's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

susrutha_sam's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

Brutal, beautiful, heartbreaking. I wasn't as into this story at the halfway point as I thought I would be but I ended up loving it. I lost sympathy for most people by the middle but they came around. There is no sugar coating, it's too real. 

gwilso30's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

therealcubcake's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

chreader1225's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

volares's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

meggy1014's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

scarlxtc's review against another edition

5.0

such an important story to tell and very real, just so devastating the way young gay men were treated and how helpless and isolated the position they were put in was. i just can’t stop crying!!!