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lucys_library's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
bookling_thoughts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, and Self harm
april98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
bookaholiz's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Friendship being in the forefront of the book is surprisingly refreshing to read, and the power of platonic love between friends were celebrated in such a tender way. I have never read a book where characters were sad and scared that their platonic love might be lost because the other person might mistaken it for romantic love, and having to lose that friendship, only to then be comforted and assured that friendship can be unconditional love as well. The hurt and anxiety that someone only cares about you to get into a relationship with you, or to get something in return, and if you don't reciprocate then they'll leave you because you don't give them what they want, and you would have been vulnerable for nothing. It's so specific, but I never knew I needed to read such a thing until this book. It's usually the other way around - someone got a crush and was sad because the other person did not see them the same way. Not that there's anything wrong with it, just that I felt so understood. That platonic love between friends can provide you with the same care and fulfilment as romantic love, and means just as much, if not more.
Struggle with academic validation is another theme that was explored in this book, but I would go so far to say that it can encompass our idea of success and external validation in general. When Daniel broke down because of the realisation that being good at school does not make you special, I felt it to my core. When Frances received great scores for her tests and felt not happiness, but only relief, I was transported back to every moment I passed a test, exam. The stress of keeping up with external validation and the terrifying idea of not knowing how to live if you fail is still very much real, even though I am not exactly in school anymore. The idea that in the big scheme of thing, everything will work itself out and failure will not end you, is something I believe in but am still working on believing, if that makes sense. It was comforting to see the struggle too many of us endured presented in such an authentic and vulnerable way, and feel a sense of hope in the end. What Alice always does best.
Overall, this book was very endearing to me for many reasons. Besides the relatable factors mentioned above, I always enjoy how normally weird the characters are. They never have to go out of their way to be obnoxiously different, instead their characters were built with nuance and were allowed to be multi-faceted. The writing and plot for this book was already upgraded majorly from Solitaire, being more polished, yet maintaining its charm with a very Alice's touch that I cannot explain in words. Just know that I trust them with everything they writes.
Moderate: Alcohol and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
cateemma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Animal cruelty
urmincy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Mental illness
devinthedaydreamer's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm
annie_arya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
_morgan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
hannahrogers's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders