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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How do i even begin writing a review for this book? Annotating it is just me writing "crying" and "oh babe" over and over again.
There is a lot to unpack, Jean broke my heart into a million pieces over the course of this.
The most unhinged part is probably me relating to him so much as I too am french, bi and traumatised.
But more seriously, I think what actually broke me the most was Jean and Kevin's relationship, my tragic boys. Jean's love for Kevin, the way he feels betrayed by him but still loves him with all his heart, the promise he made to him, the yearning and the grief and the love, oh the love.
“Kevin saw nothing but the court, but Jean had stopped hoping for more than that years ago.”
The way he doesn't believe he has a right to his sexuality, the way he doesn't believe he has a right to love. The trojans showing him tenderness. THEIR KINDNESS MATTERS. How in the end he found a queer family that accepts and loves him despite it all, teaching him that he's worthy of love.
One of the things TSC made me realise is how much I missed Neil, and missed Jean and Neil's banter, and Neil's wild damn it all attitude, maybe he's rabid and savage and has no self preservation but he's here to show Jean and Kevin that freedom, that having a voice, that fighting back is so important and how could I not love him for that?
“He strung the noose himself when when he came all the way here to put his hands on you, and I am not afraid to kick the stool out from under him. [...] remember that the next time you think you aren't worth saving.”
I just need Jean to heal and learn that he is indeed worth saving.
There is a lot to unpack, Jean broke my heart into a million pieces over the course of this.
The most unhinged part is probably me relating to him so much as I too am french, bi and traumatised.
But more seriously, I think what actually broke me the most was Jean and Kevin's relationship, my tragic boys. Jean's love for Kevin, the way he feels betrayed by him but still loves him with all his heart, the promise he made to him, the yearning and the grief and the love, oh the love.
“Kevin saw nothing but the court, but Jean had stopped hoping for more than that years ago.”
The way he doesn't believe he has a right to his sexuality, the way he doesn't believe he has a right to love. The trojans showing him tenderness. THEIR KINDNESS MATTERS. How in the end he found a queer family that accepts and loves him despite it all, teaching him that he's worthy of love.
One of the things TSC made me realise is how much I missed Neil, and missed Jean and Neil's banter, and Neil's wild damn it all attitude, maybe he's rabid and savage and has no self preservation but he's here to show Jean and Kevin that freedom, that having a voice, that fighting back is so important and how could I not love him for that?
“He strung the noose himself when when he came all the way here to put his hands on you, and I am not afraid to kick the stool out from under him. [...] remember that the next time you think you aren't worth saving.”
I just need Jean to heal and learn that he is indeed worth saving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
IM WEAK IN THE KNEES
I'm at a loss of words. I never thought my favorite series, the series that shaped me as a person and got me through my own hell while I read theirs would get another book. This was perfect I can't even put into words what this book meant to me. Jeans story was everything I didn't know I needed, and it was worth it every second. I'm in love with him and Jeremy's relationship, is just beautiful and I can't wait for them to make more progress. The friendships and found family were amazing as always. And I can't leave this book without saying how much I missed my babies, just reading them in passing was enough to give me at least 20 more years of life.
I'm at a loss of words. I never thought my favorite series, the series that shaped me as a person and got me through my own hell while I read theirs would get another book. This was perfect I can't even put into words what this book meant to me. Jeans story was everything I didn't know I needed, and it was worth it every second. I'm in love with him and Jeremy's relationship, is just beautiful and I can't wait for them to make more progress. The friendships and found family were amazing as always. And I can't leave this book without saying how much I missed my babies, just reading them in passing was enough to give me at least 20 more years of life.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
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
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
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
Short answer:
I'm completely feral over JereJean in this
Long answer:
You do not write love into trauma the way Nora Sakavic does.
Longer answer:
1. Making Renee and Jean not work because of circumstances instead of chemistry and like is top notch. You can't make me read book 1-3 with their background and not come back to it in 4th.
Well done.
2. Jeremy trying too hard to deal with Jean's trauma only to have him push back again and again and finally have the coaches, aka the fucking adults, deal with it, is very very good.
3. Laila, Cat and Jeremy as a force of nature (friend group). Didn't see that coming, but it is definitely what works best.
4. Seeing glimpses into Jeremy's family life and his own fake smile and "I'm fine" hm. Well set up. Need more of it in book 5.
5. Everything jean.
6. Andrew being just some guy from Jean's POV is priceless.
7. Jean's POV showing us the caring side of Kevin? Also priceless.
8. The suicide clusters.
9. Jean stealing Renee's photograph.
10. Neil casually ordering a hit.
What more can I say but fucking damnit, I didn't expect this book to ever happen since jean was supposed to die in every but the last version of aftg (1-3), and now he's finally on his way to a life worth living.
I'm completely feral over JereJean in this
Long answer:
You do not write love into trauma the way Nora Sakavic does.
Longer answer:
1. Making Renee and Jean not work because of circumstances instead of chemistry and like is top notch. You can't make me read book 1-3 with their background and not come back to it in 4th.
Well done.
2. Jeremy trying too hard to deal with Jean's trauma only to have him push back again and again and finally have the coaches, aka the fucking adults, deal with it, is very very good.
3. Laila, Cat and Jeremy as a force of nature (friend group). Didn't see that coming, but it is definitely what works best.
4. Seeing glimpses into Jeremy's family life and his own fake smile and "I'm fine" hm. Well set up. Need more of it in book 5.
5. Everything jean.
6. Andrew being just some guy from Jean's POV is priceless.
7. Jean's POV showing us the caring side of Kevin? Also priceless.
8. The suicide clusters.
9. Jean stealing Renee's photograph.
10. Neil casually ordering a hit.
What more can I say but fucking damnit, I didn't expect this book to ever happen since jean was supposed to die in every but the last version of aftg (1-3), and now he's finally on his way to a life worth living.
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Suicide
Minor: Homophobia