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menomica's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Ok, I will say, the writing of this book was very good. It’s what kept me coming back. It was very simplistic, which I liked. It got the point across.
I feel like the book wanted to do things, but never really delivered. The book itself suffers from not having a proper ending, like much of the storylines in it. I think the most obvious example is with Tam. He’s introduced, as if he’s going to a huge player and very influential, but then he fucks off for 20 pages, and only comes back for three lines before Mike ditches him.
Other things/themes I felt like this book pointed at but never actually took the time to elaborate on:
I feel like the book wanted to do things, but never really delivered. The book itself suffers from not having a proper ending, like much of the storylines in it. I think the most obvious example is with Tam. He’s introduced, as if he’s going to a huge player and very influential, but then he fucks off for 20 pages, and only comes back for three lines before Mike ditches him.
Other things/themes I felt like this book pointed at but never actually took the time to elaborate on:
- Racism: Besides the “racist jokes” and that instance with the racist waiter, the biggest moment of this for me was with the Workers at the play center and how they interacted with Ahmad/Benson was giving very much let’s antagonize the black kid cause it’s easiest to do. Also, even though it was a joke, them referring to Ahmad as Ben’s because they’re the only black people in the center felt… racially motivated. But it was never really elaborated beyond that. The theme of race itself was prominent throughout the book, and I think that was done well because it was obviously from an observational lense, and not with the intent of making commentary, but sometimes it felt like they’d touch on racism and then drop it like a hot potato
- Tam. Wtf. What was the reason for him being there. For Mike to have a potential love interest?? Nothing developed between them, and yet he was introduced as someone who was going to be super big and important for Mike.
THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE SEXThey exchange very minimal conversion and it just felt like there was supposed to be development there but it just never happened. And then Mike just left (like his dad did with him)!
Speaking of Mike. Ew. This is very much a Mike hate account. He’s very immature and inconsiderate. He can’t figure out his shit and leaves others to deal with the fall out for that. The biggest example of this, besides the failure that is his relationship with Ben, is that he invited his mother over to the states just to leave to go to Japan. He’s a bit selfish. And also, he literally said a fucking slur??? There was no way he was going to be good with that joke he said at the end of the first chapter. He also invalidates Ben a lot, if not with the fact that they grew up differently economically, then just his emotions in general. He never respects the boundaries that Ben places (the monogamy, letting his mother stay at their place while he was in Japan). So yeah, throughout this book I was very much rooting for Ben to pack his shit and leave him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Infidelity
Minor: Bullying, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
debookgeek's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
readswithnatalieb's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I really liked a lot about this book, but there were also parts that were pretty meh for me.
The story itself? I loved it. I took away so much about how difficult relationships are at any given point in life. Some relationships work, others don’t, but navigating through life while balancing other friendships and situations can make relationships so unique. I found the story to be so raw in that regard.
The diverse representation, an LGBTQIA+ romance, with HIV+ mention created a lot of topics that provoked thoughts. And the story wasn’t tragic or coming out wasn’t a part of it, it was just life (which more stories need to be this way). It was very much a slice of life type of read, which I also enjoyed.
Because it was a slice, I didn’t find there to be much plot. Which some readers love that style! But for me, it was just okay. Because of the lack of plot, the story seemed to slow down in sections when other parts were quick. While reading, the back and forth communication between characters seemed flat. While I read in my head, I give the characters voices and infliction, but I couldn’t with this story.
Warning! There are no quotation marks.
Overall, I can see why the book was popular so and I would suggest checking it out. I will absolutely pick up other work by Washington!
Content Warnings: cancer, infidelity, homophobia, death, alcoholism, abuse
Another bonus? TV adaptation! I could see it being successful onscreen so I will definitely watch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
eslsilver's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia and Domestic abuse
Minor: Xenophobia and Infidelity
peachani's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Infidelity
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
mxfahrenheit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming and Vomit
sarahholliday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think this book is beautiful (particularly the last section), and a very compelling story at its heart.
That being said, it's also a case of "just not for me." I am big fan of inner monologue & introspective characters, and that's not what this story is focused on. This is a story of the space that's left when we don't say what we're thinking or express what we're feeling. It's a story of action & doing, not pondering.
I was prepared for this to be a solid 3-star read (in terms of my own personal taste), and then I read the final section and sort of fell in love with the book as a whole. So if you do read it, and think it isn't for you, I highly recommend sticking it out.
That being said, it's also a case of "just not for me." I am big fan of inner monologue & introspective characters, and that's not what this story is focused on. This is a story of the space that's left when we don't say what we're thinking or express what we're feeling. It's a story of action & doing, not pondering.
I was prepared for this to be a solid 3-star read (in terms of my own personal taste), and then I read the final section and sort of fell in love with the book as a whole. So if you do read it, and think it isn't for you, I highly recommend sticking it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racial slurs
wai's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is so tender and beautiful and there are not enough words to explain or describe it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Police brutality, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Vomit
bookiecharm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Minor: Body shaming and Cancer
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