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shelbyshelbxo's review against another edition
1.0
after reflecting on this novel for a month, i’m changing my rating from 2.5 to 1 star.
i’m really not sure why this book has such a cult following.
it is incredibly problematic, harmful, BORINGGGG and way too long! so much of this book could’ve been cut out, and the intensity should’ve been brought down SEVERAL levels. please check the trigger warnings before picking this one up because there are too many to even list here in my review.
first off - i’m really not a fan of the fact that the (ABLE BODIED) author wrote a disabled character without doing any research??!! what?????? the way she wrote about his life and relationships feel extra icky now after having learned that fact. and the intensity of Jude’s life and trauma is set so high that it honestly left me desensitized. it was SO overdone and unrealistic that it took me out of the story completely. she straight up tortured this disabled character and for what…….? what purpose did it serve the (nonexistent) plot? and why go into such detailed descriptions of abuse and self harm multiple times throughout the book? it was overkill.
Despite what the synopsis says, Jude is pretty much the main character and focus of this book, the friendship aspect fizzles out about halfway through the novel - this was very disappointing considering the first part of the book spent so much time establishing the other characters. i was interested in them at first and wanted to see this friendship grow and evolve- it didn’t. these men aged, but i never felt like they matured or grew mentally at all..
the relationship dynamics were incredibly problematic, romantic and platonic. we were supposed to fall in love with these characters and their friendship..? for what reason…? almost all of them are insufferable and incredibly unrealistic. they all just sit around and essentially let their friend hack and mutilate his body to pieces. they never try hard enough to get him help, yet we’re supposed to believe they all love him? they stage an intervention for JB but can’t do the same for Jude?
and what exactly was even the point of JBs character? the way she wrote the black male characters made me uncomfortable.. JB becoming a drug addict really doesn’t sit right with me
there are so many other things i could touch on considering this book is incredibly long, but it has taken up way too much of my time already. it took me almost two months to push through this novel, and it put me in a reading slump for another. 1 STAR
i’m really not sure why this book has such a cult following.
it is incredibly problematic, harmful, BORINGGGG and way too long! so much of this book could’ve been cut out, and the intensity should’ve been brought down SEVERAL levels. please check the trigger warnings before picking this one up because there are too many to even list here in my review.
first off - i’m really not a fan of the fact that the (ABLE BODIED) author wrote a disabled character without doing any research??!! what?????? the way she wrote about his life and relationships feel extra icky now after having learned that fact. and the intensity of Jude’s life and trauma is set so high that it honestly left me desensitized. it was SO overdone and unrealistic that it took me out of the story completely. she straight up tortured this disabled character and for what…….? what purpose did it serve the (nonexistent) plot? and why go into such detailed descriptions of abuse and self harm multiple times throughout the book? it was overkill.
Despite what the synopsis says, Jude is pretty much the main character and focus of this book, the friendship aspect fizzles out about halfway through the novel - this was very disappointing considering the first part of the book spent so much time establishing the other characters. i was interested in them at first and wanted to see this friendship grow and evolve- it didn’t. these men aged, but i never felt like they matured or grew mentally at all..
the relationship dynamics were incredibly problematic, romantic and platonic. we were supposed to fall in love with these characters and their friendship..? for what reason…? almost all of them are insufferable and incredibly unrealistic. they all just sit around and essentially let their friend hack and mutilate his body to pieces. they never try hard enough to get him help, yet we’re supposed to believe they all love him? they stage an intervention for JB but can’t do the same for Jude?
and what exactly was even the point of JBs character? the way she wrote the black male characters made me uncomfortable.. JB becoming a drug addict really doesn’t sit right with me
there are so many other things i could touch on considering this book is incredibly long, but it has taken up way too much of my time already. it took me almost two months to push through this novel, and it put me in a reading slump for another. 1 STAR
lisanneheerschap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
jakhajiit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
salo1996's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
skreshpanji11's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.75
ggking's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
nats2643's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lauu_gsl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
payson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Chronic illness, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Gore, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
reverieain's review against another edition
2.0
This book is so heartbreaking. I don't think anyone could hate Jude more than the author herself. I love the writing at the beginning, so much potential but God.. it gets progressively messed up and so forced. I don't know what to say but Hanya Yanagihara... are you good?