Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

19 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

Cute and interesting YA story that features a member of a boy band and a mega-fan of said band and the unexpected ways that their lives collide. I thought mental-health and LGBTQIA+ issues were dealt with well in this book. Not my favorite of Oseman’s books, but definitely a good, quick read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Transphobia, Biphobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Grief, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Islamophobia, Death, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, and Misogyny

ciara_donohue's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Transphobia

Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia

samchase112's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.25

I've done it. I've read all of Alice Oseman's published works. I put this one off until last because I didn't recognize as much of myself in it — when compared to her others — and that remains true. (Well, I don't see much of myself in Heartstopper, either, but I also can't resist a romance that adorable.) Reading this I Was Born for This made me really sad, but by the end, really hopeful, as well. It was a downer of a book, but in a raw, emotional, well-written way. All these characters need a big hug and a whole lot of therapy, and I hope they get it. As soon as possible.

It's quite impressive how real Alice Oseman made these characters, this band, their world, in just a couple hundred pages. That's really the magic of her writing, beyond even the wonderful way she writes teenagers: her ability to make everything feel so completely real. That's why we all love her characters so much, and why I keep coming back to her work, again and again. Another win, one that makes me want to go back and reread the rest of her novels (yes, novels) as soon as I get the chance. In the spirit of Angel's imagined words to her boys, I hope Alice Oseman keeps making books forever and ever. I know I'll keep reading them as long as she does!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Alcoholism

Minor: Transphobia, Racism, and Homophobia

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

2.0

I was so bored and couldn’t connect to any of the characters or their struggles.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction

robinskye28'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

2.0

As much as I love Alice Oseman, this one was not it. Too many plot lines that are all sorta half finished. Very slow paced until the last 100 pages where suddenly everything is happening (very chaotic and hard to follow). Ending seemed rather unexplained? Angel confused me - one minute she is presenting as the very stereotypical fangirl (whole chapter talking about how The Ark is like a "faith" and "despite everything in the world being terrible, we choose to stand by The Ark") but the next she is 'not like the others'. Would have liked more background/info on Juliet and Bliss as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Homophobia, Medical content, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Drug use

*Grandparent not parent MC has anxiety/panic attacks

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective slow-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

3.0

Like other Oseman books, I didn't love this but I also didn't dislike it. It was entertaining, but felt like a self-insertion fanfiction by and about fans obsessed over a boy band. The characters are all fun and the problems they navigate werr intriguing enough to keep me reading to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Self harm, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

dalek_caan's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I found this book to be enjoyable and a pretty quick read. I found Angel to be a really annoying pov character at first but she grew on me as the story went on. I definitely felt like there was a lot of nuance with the characters overall, which I definitely appreciated. It was also kind of interesting to follow two sides to the same story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Outing, Transphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

kaitfaye1's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

Alice Oseman is one of my favorite authors for so many reasons, but above all, because her books help so many people (me included). I was Born for this is no different. This smart, complex novel discusses themes of fanhood, the public eye, belonging, and anxiety in such a powerful way.
And, can we just take a minute to appreciate the characters? Angel felt like someone crawled into my brain and took out all of my insecurities, hopes, and habits, and created a character from them (if she had a playlist, it would consist of Long Live, mirrorball, and Dorothea). As a huge swiftie and music lover in general, her connection to fan bases struck a chord with me as well. And of course there’s also Jimmy. Jimmy who also felt like a part of me, but a part of me that I’ve learned to manage and live with. He is a character which resonate with many people dealing with anxiety and depression.
Ultimately, for fans of character driven novels with so much heart, I would highly, highly recommend I was Born for this as well as any other Alice Oseman book:)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Mental illness

harperruthdk's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Violence, Transphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, and Violence