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akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.0
This is such a beautiful book.
Frances and Alex’s relationship was so lovely, it reminded me of my friendship with someone very close to me.
I loved that it focused on them being platonic, with the main romantic pairing being a plot point but not the main focus.
This is a really relatable read. I would have related to it so much when I was 18, to an extent I’m glad I didn’t read it then. Now that I’m recovering from depression, I can see myself in Aled and I can see that I too have a road to recovery available to me.
I’m glad he wasn’t included in Heartstopper (the adaptation) bc he’s too complex a character for a simple cameo. I love him, and I love Frances.
She’s so funny and I understand having a school personality and a friend one. I understand her struggles. This isn’t a 5 star for me, but goddamn this is a fucking fantastic book.
Frances and Alex’s relationship was so lovely, it reminded me of my friendship with someone very close to me.
I loved that it focused on them being platonic, with the main romantic pairing being a plot point but not the main focus.
This is a really relatable read. I would have related to it so much when I was 18, to an extent I’m glad I didn’t read it then. Now that I’m recovering from depression, I can see myself in Aled and I can see that I too have a road to recovery available to me.
I’m glad he wasn’t included in Heartstopper (the adaptation) bc he’s too complex a character for a simple cameo. I love him, and I love Frances.
She’s so funny and I understand having a school personality and a friend one. I understand her struggles. This isn’t a 5 star for me, but goddamn this is a fucking fantastic book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, and Self harm
Minor: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
lilshelly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Sobbing. This book was everything. Alice Oseman continues to impress me with just how real the characters are.
This story encapsulates so many difficult things so very well. The discussions of mental illness and abuse were crafted so well. It was all so real that it genuinely took me time to read and process. I know the academia themes are prevalent in Alice's books, but the way they're discussed is phenomenal. This extravagant pressure to be clever and get degrees is so ingrained in modern society. I'm happy that the issues with that are being discussed in YA lit.
We all just want someone to hear us.
This story encapsulates so many difficult things so very well. The discussions of mental illness and abuse were crafted so well. It was all so real that it genuinely took me time to read and process. I know the academia themes are prevalent in Alice's books, but the way they're discussed is phenomenal. This extravagant pressure to be clever and get degrees is so ingrained in modern society. I'm happy that the issues with that are being discussed in YA lit.
We all just want someone to hear us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Child abuse, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
ga_bby4's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
I thought that this was a very authentic view of these two teenagers, Frances and Alex. They are both facing pressure from family, academics, and the wide Internet because of their podcast.
I really loved being able to see how they navigated the difference spheres that they need to go between. Saddened but understanding that sometimes they needed to hide who they really are for safety, but eventually being able to express themselves fully.
I really loved being able to see how they navigated the difference spheres that they need to go between. Saddened but understanding that sometimes they needed to hide who they really are for safety, but eventually being able to express themselves fully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
pamelasoto's review
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Stalking, and Bullying
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury
bookishprincess's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Child abuse
ackopec's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Yes, some of this did hit me in the gut. However this has always come up on books with ace characters, so I assumed Frances would be ace. Yet we’re relegated to a side (if important) character again, and mentioned once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
dprekta's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved the book. I’m 22 now, but reading this made me feel 18 again. I felt so seen and in many ways, saw myself in Frances - especially her struggle to come in terms with what she liked doing, and realising that what she does at University doesn’t have to determine her life or define herself.
I wish I had picked up this book in college when I was a lost teenager having a really tough time with university, friendships and life in general. Ugh, I wish.
The characters are beautifully written, they are flawed in a very fragile, innocent way like how young adults figuring out life are. Aled and Frances are my favourite characters, I love seeing Reina’s involvement and development in the group’s friendship. It made me so happy that she was Indian!! ❤️ I loved seeing desi people get represented and written so beautifully - and not just using people of color as a plot spice.
In the big scheme of things, we will all be fine. ❤️
I wish I had picked up this book in college when I was a lost teenager having a really tough time with university, friendships and life in general. Ugh, I wish.
The characters are beautifully written, they are flawed in a very fragile, innocent way like how young adults figuring out life are. Aled and Frances are my favourite characters, I love seeing Reina’s involvement and development in the group’s friendship. It made me so happy that she was Indian!! ❤️ I loved seeing desi people get represented and written so beautifully - and not just using people of color as a plot spice.
In the big scheme of things, we will all be fine. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Animal cruelty
kccool12255's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I really liked this book! It was a fun read, it kept me interested, and the majority of the characters are pretty okay in my book. I love how Frances and Aled really got to be their true selves around each other, and how they just found their best friend in each other without falling in love. I loved how Raine stuck by Frances as a really good friend, and being their transportation throughout the book was really funny to me. Daniel also gets some really good character development as well as he and Frances become closer because of Aled. I loved Frances's mom, and I loved how well Carol's abuse of Aled was dealt with, I think it was very well written. With that being said, I wish Carys's story was included more in the book. It felt like just a passing mention, very overshadowed by the main plot, and she came back in the end with it not feeling entirely earned. I still feel like I don't know that much about her, and she used to be the best friend of the protagonist. Maybe if the stories had run parallel, it would've been better. This book is just kinda meh for me, because I feel like I don't entirely know what it's trying to SAY. There were no extreme plot twists, and yeah, academics don't mean everything and all that, but I feel like there's just something missing there. Overall, good book, just fell a little flat. I don't know if I would read this again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Suicide and Alcohol
annathesockaholic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts