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megplant'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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Transphobia, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Deadnaming
laudateluna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Please do not read the spoiler section until you have come to an understanding of what the book was talking about. In specific how it ended. This is not a "spoiler" of its content, its a mindset that could change how you experience the novel.
It was an enlightening journey that died for me with its concept. I was expecting the book to be more than it set out for, to go beyond what it was in text, however for me it was made impossible by its ending. Its not a "bad" ending, its just direct in telling you what it was about. That might work for you. For me it stopped my process of exploration of what it means to me. Because finding what I identified with was made so much harder by its purpous. I dont like when stories are literal. There is a genuine debate to be had of metaphorical effectiveness towards most people, but like I said before not for me. Maybe it is necessary and my experience is too novel.
This book is perfect. I truly mean that. It's pacing is great so are its characters, dialogue, jokes, ideas, prose. I loved every page. Torrey Peters wrote one of the most compelling debut novels I have ever had the priviledge to read. (I also highly reccomend her novellas)
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing, and Sexual harassment
katiemack'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
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Outing
Moderate: Abortion
charr_alexx'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? No
3.5
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Outing
bookishnatalia's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
rookfeathers'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
4.75
I think my only qualm with the book is that in a few spots it becomes less of a real-world fictional story and more of a field for the author to convey her ideas and familiar experiences through the character's heads and mouths, presented as if they were unilaterally agreed upon and universally experienced instead of subjective narration by the characters. Most of the time, though, they represent a variety of thought expected for the group of people with their differences. It kind of confuses me why at times you can see brilliant invention as well as strong convictions presented without judgment, and sometimes it feels like the book is directly trying to teach you things. But there's a possibility I'm wrong with my read and it's really just the nuances of tying this made-up story into the real world believably enough.
I was particularly touched by how I felt the book represented borderline - those perfect little moments and nice relationships like spells broken by a single sentence or a single gesture really hit hard if you yourself have a personality disorder or two. Also, the ending.... Oof.
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Infertility, and Mental illness
stayathomereader's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
bookscoffeehayley's review against another edition
- 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
This is a heavily character-driven book. The flaws, trauma, and personalities of the three main characters, Ames, Reese, and Katrina, are at the forefront of this novel in an unapologetic manner.
The trans representation in this book is realistic. So often in books where there are trans characters, they are represented as ‘Disney-fied’ versions of humans. Reese, specifically, opens a window into the life of a trans woman whose life isn’t always a perfect ending story. Reese is a character whom I was rooting for, getting angry with, sympathizing with, throughout the entire novel. One of my favorite characters I’ve read about this year.
Something that made this audiobook feel clunky to me was the shifting of time periods in the middle of chapters. These chapters are quite long and throughout them, there would be shifts in time periods and shifts of point of view. There were also sections of long tangents that felt to distract from the main message or plot of the chapter. Maybe because I read this book via an audiobook it was often confusing? I think the plot may have been relayed more cohesively with broken-up chapters. I also think a reread of this book in a physical format would help my reading experience a ton!
I definitely recommend reading this book for members of the LGTBQ+ community and allies. It’s unlike any other book I’ve read with queer representation. I’m excited to read more from Torrey Peters in the future!
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
sucreslibrary's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Abortion