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lilybear3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
The story is truly Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl in the best way. While this is a longer book than I normally read, I was interested the whole time and was captivated by what would happen next. It's the kind of fluffy romance that I love, full of over-the-top romance. There's Drama with a capital D! I love that we follow a large cast of characters with their own love stories and how they intertwine with one another. There are many pop culture references and has all the things young adults are dealing with (even if most aren't super rich). There are lots of CW/TWs so be sure to look at those! The bulk of them are related to alcohol, drugs, and sex.
I have a print copy and my version has discussion questions in the back! How fun! One of the first questions in the back of the print version is about how race plays a part in the book. I must have missed it, because I only knew Anna K's family was Korean. It was mentioned about halfway through that Dustin is Black and adopted. I presume the rest of the characters are white but I'm not sure. It think there are conversations that could be had speculating. But I think the book could've explored this question further and overtly.
I definitely recommend this book if you want a rich people drama-filled story. But there's also wholesome romance! It's over-the-top at times, but that's what I love.
Thoughts on certain parts of the book, a.k.a. many spoilers:
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Drug use, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Rape, Vomit, Eating disorder, Self harm, Classism, and Abortion
kimveach's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Self harm, Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Classism, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Medical content, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Grief
1004indeyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Cursing, Car accident, Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, Bullying, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
sierranorgan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Mental illness, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
decklededgess's review
- 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
4.0
Idk who or what have me the idea but this book is not sapphic? There is one sapphic character who is like basically background. No wlw here in the main cast.
Other than that disappointment this book was phenomenal. A very xoxo Gossip Girl touch to Anna Karenina which seems apt from what I know about the original text.
The wealth disparity and lack of relatability of thee wealthy ass kids made the trauma a but more distant so I could read the book without internalising too much.
It’s beautifully written and I loved the chaos that third person omniscient pov provided to the narrative.
Excited for the next one!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Racism and Blood
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
samchase112's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
This was a solid read. If you're not familiar, this book is a retelling of Anna Karenina (the classic Russian epic) which takes place in the rich upper society of New York. And when I say retelling, I mean pretty much to the T. The plot is followed fairly religiously, the characters are just as unbearably terrible (but in a good way?), and very similar questions are explored. Seriously, the lifestyle these characters lead is pretty terrible to read about, because yes, their lives are insane and filled with extreme expectations and extreme downfalls, but at the same time every single one of them (besides Dustin/Levin and Kitty, the real mvps) takes their life and wealth for granted. I will say that I enjoyed Anna more here than in the original, probably because she was a teenager and thus more forgiven for her mistakes than, say, a grown woman with children who she neglects for a young hot Vronsky. There were some great twists to the story, especially at the end, and everything tied together well. When I think back to Anna Karenina, however, I will remember my experience with the original and likely forget about this (well done, perfectly fine) retelling.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexism, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Grief, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Car accident, and Bullying
Minor: Antisemitism and Adult/minor relationship
pinkberryoasis's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death and Vomit
internationalreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts