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sundayfever's review
5.0
Excellent YA read about identity and differentiating yourself from narcissistic, abusive family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
thewoodlandbookshelf's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Racism, and Suicide attempt
avachristinem's review against another edition
I felt triggered and the story was otherwise too bland to be worth continuing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
jhscng's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
dawg i should’ve read the tws before diving into this book 😭 such heavy topics in a ya book….
the writing was very sub-par and simplistic to me and i couldn’t get into it. i know it totally makes sense for the age range but the moral messages and teachings of the book were very explicit whereas i prefer more nuance and subtlety
overall this was a very conflicting read for me bc the topics of negative parental influences on mental health and self-image r hard hitting, also the biracial and social anxiety representations were beautifully (take it with a grain of salt) done, but i couldn’t connect with it personally. i know it may become an important read to some but not for me
the writing was very sub-par and simplistic to me and i couldn’t get into it. i know it totally makes sense for the age range but the moral messages and teachings of the book were very explicit whereas i prefer more nuance and subtlety
overall this was a very conflicting read for me bc the topics of negative parental influences on mental health and self-image r hard hitting, also the biracial and social anxiety representations were beautifully (take it with a grain of salt) done, but i couldn’t connect with it personally. i know it may become an important read to some but not for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Suicide attempt
buttermellow's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is stunning. It’s so honest. And raw. And beautiful. It’s cleansing. It has made my eyes tear and my heart ache. And my soul lighten, just a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
caitlindee's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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
TW: racism, sexual & emotional abuse, parental abuse, toxic parent, gaslighting, suicide attempt
This book was AMAZING. I could not put it down and read it in one day. I had heard a ton of good things about this from one booktuber in particular and was so excited to read it once I found it at the library. And damn, I was not disappointed at all. It blew my expectations out of the water. This was such an emotional, heartbreaking, hopeful, inspiring journey. The writing, the characters, the plot, the relationships - everything was done so well. I cannot wait to read more by this author!!
This book was AMAZING. I could not put it down and read it in one day. I had heard a ton of good things about this from one booktuber in particular and was so excited to read it once I found it at the library. And damn, I was not disappointed at all. It blew my expectations out of the water. This was such an emotional, heartbreaking, hopeful, inspiring journey. The writing, the characters, the plot, the relationships - everything was done so well. I cannot wait to read more by this author!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
ehnaz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
rose_play's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’m the same amount of Asian as I am white. Why doesn’t anyone ever call me half white? It’s confusing. I wonder if it will always be confusing
It was going well till 70% but then the pacing took a downturn, so many juvenile plot points were added just for the sake shock effect. It was a melancholy read.
Some things were handled so well and then some, very serious, stuff was just glossed over
Some things were handled so well and then some, very serious, stuff was just glossed over
I thought nobody understood the way he was. I thought I was the problem. But some people are just starfish—they need everyone to fill the roles that they assign. They need the world to sit around them, pointing at them and validating their feelings. But you can’t spend your life trying to make a starfish happy, because no matter what you do, it will never be enough. They will always find a way to make themselves the center of attention, because it’s the only way they know how to live.”
I just didn't understand the need for romantic subplot and why was it even done in the first place. I didn't feel the chemistry or even the reason they were together, it'd have been so much better with them staying friends.
Every time I talk to her it feels like I’m taking a test. Most of the time I fail before I even open my mouth.
It was such an anticipated read tho, I'm very disappointed by how certain things were handled cause I loved the Asian rep ( even tho Asian doesn't always mean shall eyes and round nose for crying out loud, South Asia exists) even then the struggle of identity and heritage while in a toxic household was set up so well but alas, the ending ruined it for me. No this is not a spoiler it's tw so here you go.... The abuser is never punished, nor was he even fucking confronted. Her mental health was represented so well, but her mother's was brushed off and honestly was poorly written.
I’m half Asian, a girl, and I believe in aliens. Pretty much every lifetime before mine would have sucked for me.”
The main character was so passive tho, in whole book she made one active decision for herself, just one. I know it was hard but damn, should've given her more agency at least in the last chapters
It always seems like the only way to keep everyone else happy is to do something that makes me unhappy. I don’t know how to grow out of that.”
Also I didn't like the theme of the book of how everything she drew came from a bad place even after moving away. I know and I have myself expressed emotions through art and writing but if ALL of that comes from a bad place, how are you ever gonna escape if you are doing this all for escapism. What happens when you are in a good place in life. Shouldn't that zeal to create come from where you really want it.
If you crave a sad and tense read you could give it a shot.
I wish I could turn to dust and disintegrate into the dark air like I don’t exist at all. It would be easier that way.
Also there's a Taylor swift reference you all!!
I could never take photographs the way Jamie does. He captures strangers like he’s invisible. And he sees the best possible version of them—it’s the way I imagine things in my head, but the only way I can make it real is to paint it. To me, ideals don’t exist in real life. I have to make them up.But Jamie sees them everywhere. Imperfection is his ideal, because it’s real and tangible, and he knows how to translate it into a frozen moment in time that will be beautiful forever.
The writing is beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
aliciaadieguez's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
kiko y jaime confort straight ship sí son
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
charmel's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Starfish is art. With its wonderful writing, amazing characters, and thoughtful representation – this is legitimately a beautifully crafted art.
An art that I would gaze at for hours. An art that I wouldn't want to stop thinking about before I sleep. An art that broke me and also brought me together piece by piece. An art that I love with its flaws and all.
An art that I would gaze at for hours. An art that I wouldn't want to stop thinking about before I sleep. An art that broke me and also brought me together piece by piece. An art that I love with its flaws and all.
“Beauty isn’t a single thing. Beauty is dreaming—it’s different for everyone, and there are so many versions of it that you mostly have no control over how you see it.”
TW: racism, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, attempted suicide.
Some parts were somewhat hard for me to read, especially the family aspect of it and the parental emotional abuse Kiko was constantly receiving. It was so painful and heartbreaking. The author did an incredible job at discussing and bringing it - and the anxiety, insecurity, and some heavy problems - in a very good way. Reading this left me so emotional and I bawled my eyes out like a baby lol.
“But some people are just starfish--they need everyone to fill the roles that they assign. They need the world to sit around them, pointing at them and validating their feelings. But you can't spend your life trying to make a starfish happy, because no matter what you do, it will never be enough. They will always find a way to make themselves the center of attention, because it's the only way they know how to live.”
This talks about knowing who you are and accepting who you are no matter what race, color, or face. This is a story about friendship, chasing your dreams, doing your thing, and not let people tell you what you're capable and not capable of. This book is an art. An art that stays in my mind and my heart forever.
”I draw five humans and one skeleton, and it doesn’t matter that the skeleton has all the right bones and joints—he will never be the same as the others because he doesn’t have the right skin.“
“It feels like a big step, doing things on my own. It’s scary, but it makes me feel stronger, somehow. I feel like my feet are heavier than I realized and if the wind blows I won’t be knocked over. Except it’s not my feet that feel strong; it’s my heart.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicide attempt