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catbowen's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
2.25
Here's the thing: there's a lot to like about this book. The sex is unconventional, explorative, and open-minded (hello butt play with the female to male)! The romance is a fun premise. The story has fun elements.
However, there are a few things that are not cool. First: the characters of Keiko and Kelvin both feel like caricatures of autistic savants, but a bit mean-spirited. I may be a bit sensitive on this issue because my son is an autistic savant with specific interests, but the way Keiko was written? If John Hughes wrote an autistic character for one of his heinous 80's movies full of racist tropes? That would be Keiko/Kelvin.
Quinn also uses the term "gimp" three times in reference to a leg break. The fucking doctor even uses it. This is not OK. It's a pejorative for someone with a limb difference and I damn near DNF'd at that moment, but I was 75% done already.
Annnnnnd finally, the third act breakup took too damn long to resolve. I mean, good grief.
However, there are a few things that are not cool. First: the characters of Keiko and Kelvin both feel like caricatures of autistic savants, but a bit mean-spirited. I may be a bit sensitive on this issue because my son is an autistic savant with specific interests, but the way Keiko was written? If John Hughes wrote an autistic character for one of his heinous 80's movies full of racist tropes? That would be Keiko/Kelvin.
Quinn also uses the term "gimp" three times in reference to a leg break. The fucking doctor even uses it. This is not OK. It's a pejorative for someone with a limb difference and I damn near DNF'd at that moment, but I was 75% done already.
Annnnnnd finally, the third act breakup took too damn long to resolve. I mean, good grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Overt ableism with pejoratives used.
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