Reviews tagging 'Blood'

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

133 reviews

some_things_cosmic's review against another edition

4.0

definitely got me thinking about the meaning of fame and fandom. i loved this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Blood

Minor: Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Outing

kitty_may12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

5.0

A joy to read, complex and sharply written. every single character has their own distinct voice, flaws and motivations that are explored with the deepest of empathy. Oseman understands the teen experience, internet/internet culture like no other writer in YA fiction, dissecting all of it's delight and darkness with such care and curiosity that allows for the innocence of the novel's teenage protagonists to brilliantly shine through. Her talent is undeniable !!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Stalking, Alcoholism, and Addiction

Minor: Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape

glorytowers05's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Transphobia, Biphobia, Murder, Death of parent, Self harm, and Outing

babsi_222's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense 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

4.75

I was actually so surprised that I liked this book as much as I did. I did not expected to be this way. I think it portrays being in the fandom of something really well and just super interesting to see the two perspectives of a firm and an idol and struggles on both sides that are pretty real. It was actually a bit emotional because it was so relatable and so real in some parts, I really liked it, I thought it was just going to be annoying but it was so good. I love the dynamic between Jimmy and Lister

I think it was good that there wasn’t really any “happy end” with them together. It was normal that Jimmy didn’t have feelings for Lister suddenly and healthy that they’re not a thing in the end. It would’ve been too obvious and ‘Wattpad-like’ btw i knew that lister has a crush on Jimmy right from were he ‘saved’ Jimmy at the house party. And then when he talked to him in jimmy’s room

I like Angel’s character development so much!
The “I’m Bliss” was sooooo fucking cool and surprising.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Outing, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Eating disorder, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Violence

bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.75

Jimmy's storyline was substantially more engaging than Angel's. She seems to completely lack a personality outside of being a fan, nearly to the point of depression. I though the inevitable bread down would make me like her even less, but it actually made her more interesting. I was desperate for a bit of character development, and was so relieved when it finally started to happen. Jimmy was dealing with so much, and I guessed from the beginning that he might need a break. There were a few lulls in the story where it felt like things just kept getting repeated, then everyone suddenly snaps out of it when they take a trip through the woods. But then the story wraps up almost immediately. I wish some of the fluff in the beginning was gone and we get to see Angel with her parents and how the band deals with the contract. It was cool that though there are romantic interests, no one's hook up solves all their problems. I enjoyed the short story at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Outing and Transphobia

adam_ski's review against another edition

challenging hopeful lighthearted medium-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

3.5

A well-written book with a unique plot. It tackles the consequences of being in a famous boy band really well, acting as an insight into the world of celebrities but in a fun and engaging way.

However, the joys of this book are partly overshadowed by the characters. This is particularly true in Angel's case, where she acts selfishly throught the entire book only to be cast as almost a hero by the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Addiction, and Toxic relationship

This book is not emotionally light. There is a lot of mention of mental health issues as well as the consequences of having obsessive fans.

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

thatreadinggal11's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book was interesting. The characters changed and blurred into one another. I love the inclusivity and thoughtfulness about angels religion and jimmy’s gender. Overall this book was great but could have some slight tweaks

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, and Drug use

saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

 "I think the truth is that everyone in the entire world is confused and nobody understands much of anything at all."

Alice Oseman has really mastered the science of the YA contemporary, huh? Like her other books, I Was Born For This is a heartwarming but not without darkness, relatable, and realistic contemporary. Oseman's characters always feel like real teenagers and she puts such care into the representation, this one starring a cast of relatable hot messes that I couldn't help but root for.

IWBFT in particular is about bandom and so deals with themes such as of parasocial relationships, fame, obsession, online friendship, shipping real people, etc. As someone who's spent some time in similar spaces (though I have more experience with pop girls than boy bands). I found it to be pleasantly nuanced, not making any blanket statements about whether fandom is a good or bad thing, providing both the perspective of a famous boy band member and a fangirl and showing both the pros and cons.

All the characters are quite dynamic and have solid, natural arcs. Jimmy is struggling with anxiety that has only worsened with his rising fame. Angel is staying with an online friend, Juliet, but Juliet invited Some Guy™ and Angel's finding their dynamic isn't exactly the same online. I loved how they're all allowed to be messy in a realistic way! The cast is also really diverse, Jimmy is trans and multiracial, Angel is Muslim and possibly aroace, and the side cast has multiple POC and queer characters.

The story is a breeze to read, Oseman's prose being casual, fitting a contemporary with a plot that's slightly unhinged. Along with Alice Oseman's other books, I'd high recommend I Was Born For This! Especially if you have experience in musical fandoms.

TWs: panic attacks on page, discussions of suicide, physical assault, injury, medical emergency, mentions of transphobia, mentions of parental abandonment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Transphobia and Abandonment

fairylibrary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

Moderate: Outing and Blood

Minor: Self harm, Transphobia, and Adult/minor relationship