quinn24's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Racial slurs, Death, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content
viccocha's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Sexism, Murder, Cursing, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
maggie_bahnson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Homophobia
pollymwright's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Infidelity, Grief, Mental illness, and Homophobia
coriblake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Racial slurs
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Homophobia
muukhom's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The length of the book kinda overwhelmed me at first but now that I finished it, it was not a long boring book with useless description or sub-plot. It was, in fact, a really fascinating book. Although I find that some part could be cut off but it was not irritating and still enjoyable. Would definitely reread it some time.
Graphic: Abandonment, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Medical trauma
bookshelf_of_jess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Homophobia
morbidanatomy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia and Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia
loxleysliterature's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In this novel, Theo talks to us about the things he wants us to know. He changes the view point a little so we view him a little different. For example, he does NOT want us to see that he has feelings for a boy at all, so he’ll describe thing and then back track as best as he can or try to cover his back. It’s this raw humanlike quality that i love about this novel. The characters are flawed but human and its SO important and interesting to see.
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
Minor: Homophobia
swaggynikki's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My favorite aspects of the book:
1. Boris
My least favorite aspects of the book:
2. The parts with no Boris
Like, I get it serves the narrative. But please. I love him. I love how unhinged and free he is. He's that typical "insane morally gray man" but he isn't morally gray! He's good and open and trusting and kind! I will be honest, the beginning of the book sets the scene wonderfully, but by page 150 I was just powering through like "where is he. where is he. where is he. where is he." Like, reading specifically for Boris just because I knew I would love him so much. I think the women in this book where kinda lacking, but not even in complexity, just in page time. The balance of characters was so good, the roles they played in his life were so good, the last section was so good. This book will stick with me and consume my mind and I'm happy about it. Ugh.
P.S. Popchyk being a crusty white dog was camp tbh. Yas queercoding.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Homophobia