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atlasxspeaks's review
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Minor: Homophobia
bones_in_the_woods's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
unsweetendtea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
richmondo's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
jmpres's review
1.0
I picked this up because I loved RWRB…which was my first mistake. Literally the first chapter has the two boys stuck in a closet together while something unspecified happens outside that could be really bad and thus they end up bonding (ummm sound familiar much??). And that was just the first chapter. Also, the overarching message seemed to be “politics don’t matter if you’re in love” which seems like a pretty unrealistic view for a gay POC (although to be fair there’s hardly any exploration of the fact that Dre is POC beyond stating that his dad would be the first Mexican American president so perhaps realism wasn’t the authors goal). DNF.
booksmelladdict's review
2.0
The State of Us was an irritating, tropey young adult romance book by Shaun David Hutchinson.
The cover is a close up illustration of two boys kissing in an outline of the United States, which is not only really cheesy, but not unlike many romance books, slightly humiliating.
Shaun Hutchinson is a queer author that currently lives in Seattle. He writes YA books, mostly LGBTQ+ romances. The State of Us was not one of Hutchinson’s most popular books, nor was it on any bestseller or recommendation lists. On goodeads, the book got a 3.4 average rating, with 3,000 ratings, and 600 reviews.
The plot was almost identical to the book Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuinston. So similar in fact, that I think that McQuinston should contact Hutchinson’s team. Except Red, White, and Royal Blue was written well, and this book made me cringe. The politics were written horribly, with each debate sounding like people debating in movie, for some reason they go at each other and tear each other apart, and then their friends congratulate them? I’m no debate club junkie, but personally attacking the opponent feels like something that doesn’t really happen. Also the son of the white, republican woman running for president is portrayed as having democratic views, which is very confusing, because he “identifies” as republican, just doesn’t agree with pretty much every opinion they have? Super strange.
Another thing is that the characters, who are teenagers, do not feel real. They really pressed this with the character Dean, who’s mother is the republican candidate. His wearing of loafers, and his style which is described as “insurance agent” was really trying to be funny, pushing the fact that he is more uptight, but it felt awkward and clunky. He is also described as using full spelling and punctuation over chat messages, which isn’t unbelievable, but his use of the French word “ennui”, meaning feeling despair, was hilarious.
Not even mentioning how gross the QPOC rep is with a white republican boy and a liberal Mexican American boy, this book was a huge ick. It felt fake, annoying, and overall uncomfortable to read. Don’t waste your time, instead here are a couple other coming of age queer options: Red, White and Royal Blue, By Casey McQuiston, Aristotle and Dan-
te Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Little and Lion, by Brandy Colbert. Just to name a few.
The cover is a close up illustration of two boys kissing in an outline of the United States, which is not only really cheesy, but not unlike many romance books, slightly humiliating.
Shaun Hutchinson is a queer author that currently lives in Seattle. He writes YA books, mostly LGBTQ+ romances. The State of Us was not one of Hutchinson’s most popular books, nor was it on any bestseller or recommendation lists. On goodeads, the book got a 3.4 average rating, with 3,000 ratings, and 600 reviews.
The plot was almost identical to the book Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuinston. So similar in fact, that I think that McQuinston should contact Hutchinson’s team. Except Red, White, and Royal Blue was written well, and this book made me cringe. The politics were written horribly, with each debate sounding like people debating in movie, for some reason they go at each other and tear each other apart, and then their friends congratulate them? I’m no debate club junkie, but personally attacking the opponent feels like something that doesn’t really happen. Also the son of the white, republican woman running for president is portrayed as having democratic views, which is very confusing, because he “identifies” as republican, just doesn’t agree with pretty much every opinion they have? Super strange.
Another thing is that the characters, who are teenagers, do not feel real. They really pressed this with the character Dean, who’s mother is the republican candidate. His wearing of loafers, and his style which is described as “insurance agent” was really trying to be funny, pushing the fact that he is more uptight, but it felt awkward and clunky. He is also described as using full spelling and punctuation over chat messages, which isn’t unbelievable, but his use of the French word “ennui”, meaning feeling despair, was hilarious.
Not even mentioning how gross the QPOC rep is with a white republican boy and a liberal Mexican American boy, this book was a huge ick. It felt fake, annoying, and overall uncomfortable to read. Don’t waste your time, instead here are a couple other coming of age queer options: Red, White and Royal Blue, By Casey McQuiston, Aristotle and Dan-
te Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Little and Lion, by Brandy Colbert. Just to name a few.
victoriasreads's review
1.0
rwrb dupe…
but being serious the rep in this book was literally just pasted in and not explained at all, definitely read bipoc readers’ reviews but i agree that dre’s mexican-american identity is never explored, the demi rep is shaky at best, and every character is like flat stereotype
but really the biggest issue is that the elon-musk-esque independent candidate has shitty republican ideas just to distract from the fact that dean’s mom has the same bad views. and this is never condemned it’s just “oh we don’t agree with each other but let’s table it bc we’re in love” and trust me i think it’s okay that they could put their parents aside for each other but like… if you support your mother dean you are also a part of the problem.
also the fact that he didn’t even say who won like hello it was 2020 election year don’t act like it would be sunshine and rainbows if the republican won just bc mcmann was gone doesn’t mean she was good?? not only was i mad i didn’t find out but also like it clearly shows he was writing this from a not-left perspective which i frankly don’t have the energy for < /spoiler> i did read this book quickly and didn’t mind the like writing style it was pretty bad but i didn’t expect much like it was supposed to be a silly read but the author seriously fucked up what could’ve been good representation and a good story that it certainly was not!
but being serious the rep in this book was literally just pasted in and not explained at all, definitely read bipoc readers’ reviews but i agree that dre’s mexican-american identity is never explored, the demi rep is shaky at best, and every character is like flat stereotype
but really the biggest issue is that the elon-musk-esque independent candidate has shitty republican ideas just to distract from the fact that dean’s mom has the same bad views. and this is never condemned it’s just “oh we don’t agree with each other but let’s table it bc we’re in love” and trust me i think it’s okay that they could put their parents aside for each other but like… if you support your mother dean you are also a part of the problem.
also the fact that
alprnt's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
The ending was almost painfully bad.. almost as painful as writing this, since Shaun David Hutchinson wrote one of my all time favorite books.
Dear villains,
don't hold a speech about your evil plan in the 21st century. You ARE being recorded.
Sincerely,
Kim Possible
The ending was almost painfully bad.. almost as painful as writing this, since Shaun David Hutchinson wrote one of my all time favorite books.
Dear villains,
don't hold a speech about your evil plan in the 21st century. You ARE being recorded.
Sincerely,
Kim Possible