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eve_lyn's review
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I really Wanted this book to be better but it wasn’t. It was really slow on the plot, which is weird because it introduces a huge plot point at the start of the book. But then it gets bogged down with just filler and storylines that end up going no where, really. And there’s a lot of micro aggressions and just ignorance from the main character (and author). For example, when Esme and Cass want to go shopping and Cass turns down a second hand shop, Esme calls her choice of going to a department store as ‘boring normal people thing’ which is kinda rude to say to a foster kid who hasn’t had the chance to go shopping for new clothes in years. But don’t worry Cass then < spoiler: steals clothes, against Esme’s wishes. And Esme judges her for it. Yes, the orphan Mexican side character suggests stealing and the white main character points out how Wei g that is> Also how the girls treat Dion in the third act isn’t fair. He’s a victim and they don’t even care.
Overall, the concept is awesome and cool. Just not written super well. Like this book kinda felt like a first draft, ya know. Like it has a lot of stuff in the middle of the book that’s not needed. And none of the characters are really strong, not even Esme tbh.
Overall, the concept is awesome and cool. Just not written super well. Like this book kinda felt like a first draft, ya know. Like it has a lot of stuff in the middle of the book that’s not needed. And none of the characters are really strong, not even Esme tbh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexism, Gaslighting, and Bullying
amalyndb's review against another edition
fast-paced
Concept - interesting.
Beginning and end have different flow than the middle, especially dialogue with text talk. Felt jarring and like it may not age well, but I am also not the target audience.
May read the others if I am really bored later on.
Beginning and end have different flow than the middle, especially dialogue with text talk. Felt jarring and like it may not age well, but I am also not the target audience.
May read the others if I am really bored later on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Confinement
writtenbydnicole's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
angelicathebookworm's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
jenkneebee's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
folkmare's review
DNF about 50 pages in because I'm really not into the tone. It's not just that it's written pretty juvenile. It's more that some of the dialogue is really stilted and forced. A lot of text abbreviations in all caps where no teen I know would actually use them. Have I been known to say "sigh" or lol or idk out loud, especially as a teen? Yeah, but not every 30 minutes. On top of that, a lot of the slang is.... extremely outdated. This was published in 2019 and some of the text is very 2009-2012ish? I don't know when the last time I heard someone say "epic fail" or "fml" was.
Also watch out for body-shaming and criticism of people's looks CONSTANTLY.
Also watch out for body-shaming and criticism of people's looks CONSTANTLY.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
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