Reviews

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

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esmeroda's review against another edition

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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

4.5

this book was the most heartwarming, cozy, loving, sweet thing i have ever read
alice oseman i love u

justinkhchen's review against another edition

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4.0

4 stars

Filled with nostalgia, this is obviously a very specific, personal perspective, from someone who's essentially twice the age as the protagonists in Radio Silence, and reading it in 2022. But I do think it perfectly captures the minutiae of being at the cusp of adulthood, the fear, uncertainty, and excitement for self-learning and what's ahead in life.

I really appreciate Radio Silence's angle on teenage anxiety, from maintaining good grades (really was a life/death moment at that age), to fitting in with societal expectation. The inclusion of topic such as sexual orientation, fringe culture, and platonic friendship feels well integrated, authentic, and not preachy. However, despite the nuanced depiction on teenagers, Radio Silence is oddly cartoony when it comes to its adult characters—the parents are either unrealistically understanding, or just outright villainous. It is too bad this aspect of the story is so black and white, when everything else is crafted with subtlety.

A total aside, Radio Silence is also an unintentional time capsule of the 2010s—a time when Tumblr was a dominating platform, podcast is new and just below mainstream's radar, and Kayne West was still a relatively non-problematic rapper. It's insane how much the world has changed in less than a decade since this book's initial publication (2016).

noorandbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

i think i need a minute. okay. okay good.

Things I liked about this book: How the character's interacted with each other. The writing style. How the chapters were broken up. The characters. Daniel and Aled's relationship. France and Aled's relationship. Frances and Raine's relationship. France-

You get the point. I loved the relationships between the characters.

I loved how being emotionally abusive was taken just as seriously as physically. Once you take away the kid's freedom to be themselves... Well, that's a big thing. You're taking the thing that makes them, them and I think the author handled the guilt you feel with being a child of a parent like that very seriously. AAA POOR ALED.

And I loved the critique on school. Honestly, I think that's the main reason it hit me so hard. I despise school. I don't want to go to college. But I don't know what else I can do besides that. This book, sort of feels like a sign. 'Hey, don't slave away doing something you don't want to do.'

This book just. Hit me so hard.

i need another minute, i'm sorry-