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ercon'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
1.5
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Car accident and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
saramcaps'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
3.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Bullying, and Car accident
aimeenotpond's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, and Car accident
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
aichaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder and Alcoholism
ninaevan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you’re reading this for the first time and struggling to get thru the obnoxious cast of characters and attitudes, stay strong because this book could be used in a lit class to teach about character development.
It was so touching that I almost cried a few times and that’s not so easy to do these days.
My one sort-of critique that’s not so much a critique of this book but of all of LO’s writing- Did she grow up on the set of mean girls or was her high school experience actually so fucked up that she thinks high schools really act like this to each other? I mean I know I had a better hs experience than most but I just can’t imagine that her idea of teenage cruelty is actually realistic..?
I do wish it wasn’t so dramatic in that sense bc thinking abt it while reading always takes me out of her books. Also, it’s kinda uncomfy how sexual she makes so many of her teenage characters- not so much in their actions but in their thoughts… Lots of weird stuff, again I mean in all of her books. It’s not too bad but also just a little weird and takes me out of the book.
I have now read all of the YA/Adult Lauren Oliver books and I think I’ll actually be really excited to keep her in the rotation and stay on top of any new releases… this is def her best book tho.
For a further discussion of my thoughts, check out the next episode of my podcast: Books without Borders. https://anchor.fm/books-wo-borders
My scoring:
5.00 | = everyone in the world must read this book
4.75 | = between 4.5 and 5
4.50 | = dessert island book
4.25 | = between 4 and 4.5
4.00 | = great, solid, recommendable book
3.75 | = almost a 4, but not quite
3.50 | = not a 4, but I had a good time
3.25 | = rough patches, but not bad
3.00 | = meh, read-able but nothing to write home about
2.75 | = between a 2.5 and 3
2.50 | = there’s something I liked here but it wasn’t enough to be good
2.25 | = between a 2 and 2.5
2.00 | = not good and there was nothing I liked
1.00 | = bad
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Suicide, Car accident, and Death
misoreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Car accident
starlien's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Death, Self harm, Suicide, and Car accident
Minor: Sexual content
regalreads'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
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Death, Car accident, Bullying, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Alcoholism
hemmr3252's review
- 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, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
beckyremillard'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Eating disorder