Reviews

Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump

steel_city_peach's review against another edition

3.0

Quirky

I’m not sure that I know how to describe this coming-of-age story. I struggled to catch the rhythm of the writing in the first quarter. It felt like he was writing in a staccato cadence. It did become more fluid as the story continued. The lead character was downright pitiful. I kept hoping he’d blossom into something more likable. He did not. I found myself pushing forward just to be done with this book. The one bright spot was the comic relief that Paul’s character brought to the story.

jiddian's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

3.75

rory_o_rama's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.5

amelias's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

johnnyb1954's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

• 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

3.0

I would love to see how Gabriel Bump would write this book ten years from now. It’s a good debut novel but could be better. 
Claude is a lump of clay being molded by time and place and people he lives with. Most everyone in his life leaves one way or another until he finally leaves his family for college in Missouri. But he can’t escape being black on America. 
The book is like a series of scenes put in chronological order. More character and message based than plot based. It is a short book and not all the key characters are really fleshed out. 
The white characters are ridiculous stereotypes, which I assume is intentional - just the way white authors often create back characters. 
The humor in the book doesn’t always work for me but I appreciate the attempt to balance drama and lightness. 
Some of the scenes seem like they don’t contribute to the story but maybe I missed the point. 
Most of the book was compelling, though. 

carleymcbing's review against another edition

5.0

How is the average rating of this less than a four? This book is awesome — stunning, rapid, anxious, hopeful, hilarious! I loved every minute. Couldn’t put it down.

semiiii's review against another edition

4.0

A beautiful quick read - they aren't lying when they say it crackles and pops right off the page. Strong unique characters.

clellman's review against another edition

4.0

Wow, this guy can write dialogue. It was very deadpan and spare, in a way that was both very funny and very sad. I thought the book was stronger in the beginning when it was less plot-driven. The ending didn't do as much for me (and had some surprising thematic overlap with The Hate U Give). I also was confused about the point of the character Connie Stove and thought she could have just been eliminated. Would definitely read more by Bump though.

amylowe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.5

blackbiracialandbookish's review against another edition

3.0

Gabriel Bump’s debut novel