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yellowswagger's review against another edition
3.0
Tension could have been built more and stakes could've been higher if this narrative wasn't spun via flashback. Often, when tensions are getting high, we jump back into the present, into the interrogation room. The story- the pieces are all there to make for a thrilling, heart-racing tragedy, but the execution persistently reels the reader back into a Stockholm sense of safety. You know how his story ends before it even begins.
I had a lot of excitement reading a story about a brown gay kid. I was thoroughly heartbroken to read that the most joy he felt was when he was surrounded by muscular, white gays. I’m afraid that any young, brown, queer person reading this book is going to see this as their community. This story leans into the all too common narrative of the picture perfect playboy muscle queer being the standard for beauty and acceptance within the gay community.
It has the potential to be adapted into a thrilling TV show, although I'd inevitably be heartbroken at the lack of diversity.
I had a lot of excitement reading a story about a brown gay kid. I was thoroughly heartbroken to read that the most joy he felt was when he was surrounded by muscular, white gays. I’m afraid that any young, brown, queer person reading this book is going to see this as their community. This story leans into the all too common narrative of the picture perfect playboy muscle queer being the standard for beauty and acceptance within the gay community.
It has the potential to be adapted into a thrilling TV show, although I'd inevitably be heartbroken at the lack of diversity.
nicktelesco's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
adamderb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
lucyistoocool's review against another edition
4.0
I heard Arvin Ahmadi speak about his book at a release event for Adam Silvera’s The First to Die at the End. Arvin was awesome, so funny and he seemed so genuine. His book was good, and you could tell it was really personally meaningful.
mfulms21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
frogsnstuff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
I’ll admit when I started reading it I thought it would be a DNF but by the end this book had me crying. The emotional scenes are so beautifully written and filled with heartache and yet hope. It’s the type of book that brings out feelings you didn’t know you had
aclopez6's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book to a degree, but would offer it to students with the caveat of remembering that not all realistic fiction is "realistic", and that Amir makes many questionable and unsafe decisions, but there is still a lot to learn and gain from his story!
el_libromark's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Loved it. Great cast of characters, felt like I was with the group in Italy.
celtic67's review
5.0
Imagine?
A great coming of age story. On what it means to be young,Muslim and gay.This book could be subtitled Imagine. Imagine you were being blackmailed, imagine you were Iranian, imagine you are gay. Imagine what that would mean for the rest of your life.
Amir fearing his blackmailer would out him to his family and fearing the backlash from his ultra conservative mother and father. Is he right to fear? He flees from his family and his blackmailer.
He ends up in Rome in what he thinks will be heaven. he is befriended by a group of gays. But far from being a paradise on earth he finds he has jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He finds that gays can be as prejudiced and jealous as any hetrosexual.
The author has written a good story of prejudice, blackmail and fear. The prose is of a top quality, the characters are all well rounded and essential to the story. The reader will find his or herself changing sides, agreeing with Amir and then siding with his parents. What the reader will find is nothing is black or white but more a murky shade of grey. Well recommended.
A great coming of age story. On what it means to be young,Muslim and gay.This book could be subtitled Imagine. Imagine you were being blackmailed, imagine you were Iranian, imagine you are gay. Imagine what that would mean for the rest of your life.
Amir fearing his blackmailer would out him to his family and fearing the backlash from his ultra conservative mother and father. Is he right to fear? He flees from his family and his blackmailer.
He ends up in Rome in what he thinks will be heaven. he is befriended by a group of gays. But far from being a paradise on earth he finds he has jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He finds that gays can be as prejudiced and jealous as any hetrosexual.
The author has written a good story of prejudice, blackmail and fear. The prose is of a top quality, the characters are all well rounded and essential to the story. The reader will find his or herself changing sides, agreeing with Amir and then siding with his parents. What the reader will find is nothing is black or white but more a murky shade of grey. Well recommended.
chan_bean's review against another edition
4.0
Love the framing device! A very fun way to get multiple perspectives without fully committing to the multiple perspective bit. Gay people be having fun. But they also be having problems!