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mel_muses's review against another edition
4.5
A stunning book that stands to remind us that most things — most people — aren't forever, but they are just as important for who we are in that moment. I needed this reminder, and what a beautiful way to express it. Although this was a quick read, it still took me a bit to connect with it and I was full of questions as I read. These characters aren't meant to be "likable," but I stand by the fact that this made their story of falling in and out of love even more real. I can't wait to read more by Ashley Woodfolk.
Trigger Warnings: substance use, toxic relationships, arson/pyromania, police, absent parents, racism, homophobia, depictions of depression
Trigger Warnings: substance use, toxic relationships, arson/pyromania, police, absent parents, racism, homophobia, depictions of depression
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Mental illness, and Addiction
peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
"Little girls' bodies are war zones with no allies. And women are made of whatever survives."
I highlited like half this book. Something about the queer joy but also the inner shame and confusion, feels very close to home.
I highlited like half this book. Something about the queer joy but also the inner shame and confusion, feels very close to home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Bullying, Pedophilia, and Toxic friendship
lolajh's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
So much angstier than my usual reads; focuses on a quite toxic and realistic relationship that is just full of heartbreak and unhappiness and not like the usual romcoms I tend to go for. This book is also written in a lettered poetry verse format addressed from one of the main characters to the other, never once saying either of their names, a fascinating stylistic choice by the author I quite like. I felt like I was very much in the head and situation of the main character writing in first person (and second person too I guess), every line written in verse so beautiful and so much more personal when it’s written by the characters themselves. There are also time skips in this book, jumping from the present to the past that all comes together at the end to explain “the fire” event titling one timeline’s chapters. The fact that the author was able to tell a story that could be recounted through solely verse, plus skipping through events in time, was incredible and so fascinating how similar it was to a story told in first person but so different at the same time because of this lettered structure that is the main character addressing her love interest, and makes what is being written so much more personal and raw than it would’ve been if it had of been written in any other way.
And the story. So incredibly heartbreaking and something that is so real and relatable to a large majority of relationships that don’t always go perfectly and showing the bumps along the way and heartbreaks and acceptance that when you aren’t getting something you want and deserve, to understand you deserve better and to move on in order to be okay with yourself independently from a relationship and knowing your worth. Such a beautiful piece and so different to anything I’ve ever read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
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