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emily_mh's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Violence, Homophobia, Bullying, Outing, Racism, Gaslighting, and Hate crime
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Vomit, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Car accident
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Child death, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Blood, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug use, Ableism, Police brutality, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Major: three uses of the n-slur, eugenics Moderate: imprisoned loved one, capital punishment Minor: disownment, toxic masculinity, texturism, sick loved one, suicidal ideation, disordered eatingcoryannellerbe's review
- 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
The two main characters are so well written, they felt very real. Reading this was almost like reading a diary. The two leads have their strengths, flaws, things they aren't willing to compromise on.
Chi is motivated to succeed at almost any cost. She looks at her high school success as a means to an end, and she views a lot of relationship that way too. She doesn't have many friends because she surrounds herself with people who seem to share that same idea: relationships and friendships in high school are a contract, to gain popularity, win awards and recognition, get good grades, and get accepted into Yale University. She's successful and smart, but she acknowledges her drive unapologetically.
Devon is a bit more of a dreamer, though he comes from a neighborhood where "dreaming is dangerous". He's at school on scholarship and dreaming of getting into Julliard and studying music. He works hard because his mom has sacrificed everything to get him a chance at a rarefied education, and he wants to make all the struggle they've gone through worth it. He's more of a dreamer then Chi, a little more withdrawn and reflective. Plus, while Chi's whole world revolves around their school, Devon almost seems to live in two worlds, one where he clearly doesn't fit in and one where he doesn't feel safe.
This book took elements of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and Get Out and turned them on their heads. It used a lot of similar plot elements to create a world we as readers could recognize while revealing the dark underbelly of the world that we might not have been expecting.
This is not your average "who-dun-it" and it really feels like it should be required reading in the digital age.
Moderate: Car accident, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Racism, Biphobia, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Classism
Minor: Ableism
julesxyz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Ableism