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secre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's a young adult book, but I can see why many parents may want to keep it til their child is older. Whist Burgess doesn't linger too deeply on the horrors of the drugs, they don't shy away from the consequences of the addiction. It also doesn't shy away from what makes drugs interesting, shiny and appealing. In the early moments of the novel, it doesn't seem like Gemma and Tar are particularly badly effected by their new life style choice. If anything, they are deeply in love with it. Their lives fall apart in gradual stages, one thing leads to another and devastating their lives.
It's a stark novel. You don't necessarily like the characters, but you're along for the ride anyway. It's well written, well portrayed and engaging. You watch the characters teetering on the edge of the abyss, waiting for them to take the final fall. It's absolutely a novel I'd recommend for teenagers and adults alike.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
mayasowerby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Blood
maireada21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Addiction, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
christinasingh's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
Heart wrenchinghannahwillacy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
Minor: Pedophilia, Abortion, Antisemitism, and Racism
dustandstarlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
sofiajearally'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
3.0
It started kinda slow and I gotta say I disliked Gemma a great deal, couldn't relate to her, while I related to Nico and thought he should be protected at all cost. Melvin Burgess did a great job writing complex characters and turning things around (at least for me) and, by the end of the story, Gemma's character arc was inspiring and I ended up being very proud of her. Nico indeed suffered from prior, serious issues, so it's logical that his path went differently. It was sad but it wasn't surprising, even though I was rooting for him until the very last chapters...
The moment I started not being able to wait before picking up the book was around the middle of the story, when the subject of heroin is introduced and it just gets grimmer and grimmer. From that moment on, it was a real page-turner with powerful writing, until the very end (Nico's father's chapter stirred me).
I loved that the story covered the before, during and the after of heroin addiction, without going - I think - overboard, nor glossing over dark themes.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness and Vomit
amelievasilia'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Abandonment, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide