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jordynkw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
booitsnathalie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is predominantly about an inability to connect to others, of superficial interactions insufficiently standing in for a deeper connection the two protagonists crave. The conclusions they arrive at are frustrating, but so deeply articulated that they make a sort of sense. Nobody is capable of unpacking their adolescent (and ongoing) trauma because it requires a vulnerability that frankly terrifies them. So they dissociate, attempt to mirror each other, cling to the closest approximation of happiness they can find. It is unrelentingly bleak and I admire the willingness to refuse an easy resolution.
The degree to which this articulates an actual worldview of impossible codependency is murkier for me, with a lot of baggage of outdated psychology being inserted as an inherent cause of the isolation everyone feels (rather than, say, the class disparity that is crudely gestured at but far outside the novel's interests). I cannot begrudge it too much as it is well in line with characters who themselves have very little awareness of the reasons they are so unhappy, but I am skeptical about the ways that viewpoint inevitably gets expanded to be some sort of social truth.
Mostly I am surprised by the book's coldness. I devoured it in a few days and came away feeling profoundly empty. I do mean this as a compliment of sorts.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
quixie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Sexual violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
awildjessichu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
whitne_ey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Blood
rubyreadzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion
lindseylosers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death, Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Abortion
saskiahill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Infidelity
tatjanasbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Bullying, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Blood
valen_chialvo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder