Reviews tagging 'Outing'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

170 reviews

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad 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

4.5

This is a beautiful and wacky book about spaceship captains, doughnuts, violinists, luthiers, and the occasional demon. The fun part is seeing how they’re all connected. 

The backstory of Katrina and the agonies of being trans is wrenching. When I read something like this, I realize yet again how lucky I have been to have had a peaceful life of acceptance. It’s rewarding to see her growth from cowering victim to self-confident performer. 

The more fantastical and funny bits about the doughnut shop (spelled donut), the space aliens, and the frog-faced demon offset the seriousness of Katrina’s history. My only quibble is how often we hear about Lucia being told she’s unworthy because she’s a daughter - about half the mentions would have been enough. 

Overall a charming and lovely book about otherness and acceptance, including accepting ourselves as we are. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Outing

rainbowshelves's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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

Oh! Really painful to read at times but in the end so lovely and hopeful. Will also potentially make you hungry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Murder, and Outing

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

It's difficult to choose Graphic, moderate or Minor accurately but I'll do my best

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This book has so much in it. So many plots, so many characters, so many trigger warnings (seriously check them, i didn't and almost stopped), but it's also filled with so much love that it is hard to critique it. It loves its characters, music, donuts, the community of Monterey Park, me, you, and every messy thing. Much like Katrina's music, discordant notes are brought together into an interesting whole. I'm typing through tears and my heart is full. (Though the people who say this book is cozy is a dead liar)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, Outing, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and War

ehagen11's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Outing, and Sexual harassment

renstrange's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

update after finishing in 2024: this was a soft dnf last year, but i always intended to give it another shot. i’m so glad i did. i connected with it instantly this time. i especially love katrina and the mother-daughter relationship that forms between her and shizuka.

the writing style takes some getting used to and the main relationship lacks some development. due to this, i’d thought i would give this book 4-4.25 stars. and then i hit the last 20%. 

this book made me cry. i rarely cry, so any book that affects me so deeply automatically needs to be five stars. sorry, i don’t make the rules.

2023: dnf for now. i’m having trouble connecting with this book, but i don’t want to fully give up on it yet. i’ll try it again another time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Dysphoria

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, and War

Misgendering, transphobic slurs, lesbophobic slurs, underage sex work

abookwormspov's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

yinflower's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Outing, and War

jaimc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Outing, and Sexual harassment

Minor: War

kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Transphobia

Moderate: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Outing, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, and War

le_mur's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Racism, Rape, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Outing, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders