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izzythebells's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
thewoodlandbookshelf's review
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Racism, and Suicide attempt
buttermellow's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
caitlindee's review
- 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
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!!
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
rose_play's review against another edition
- 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
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.
I’m half Asian, a girl, and I believe in aliens. Pretty much every lifetime before mine would have sucked for me.”
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.
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
miserablemoons'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism
booksandcat'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: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
onlyongracexm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
As for the rest of the characters, I’m actually not super fond of Jaime, or of either of her brothers as well, but I believe the point of the book was not to create completely likable characters or else that wouldn’t be realistic. On that note, I do wish we also got to cover Kiko’s brothers more, but ultimately, this story solely belongs to Kiko.
On a final note, I want to address the way they handled Kiko’s harassment by her uncle. You can drown in 12 feet of water the same way you can drown in 7 feet. (Spoiler ahead!) Despite Kiko’s incident being objectively not as severe as someone who suffered a greater trauma, her feelings and anxieties are valid and treated as such by Jaime (and not by her shitty mother, which is another thing that exacerbates her personality). So matter how minor an incident may seem on the outside, whatever goes on with someone on the inside shouldn’t be demeaned because you only saw one side of the story.
Read this book. Kiko’s mom is shitty. Follow your dreams and stay strong.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
nandakandabooks's review
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism and Suicide attempt
katjoyphil's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia