Scan barcode
zanm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.9 rounded up.
——
Unbearably realistic at times. I felt close to tears for a majority of the book. Really really good. Probably will never read again because it just made me so damn sad and hit justttt a bit too close to home. The internalized homophobia and depiction of faith and having parents that love you but don't love you is the best I’ve ever seen. Absolute kudos to the author.
Minor Critiques: Gets a little preachy at the end, has a few spots with questionable consent.
——
Unbearably realistic at times. I felt close to tears for a majority of the book. Really really good. Probably will never read again because it just made me so damn sad and hit justttt a bit too close to home. The internalized homophobia and depiction of faith and having parents that love you but don't love you is the best I’ve ever seen. Absolute kudos to the author.
Minor Critiques: Gets a little preachy at the end, has a few spots with questionable consent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Homophobia, Grief, Death, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident and Sexual harassment
cathyolibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
tseeman02's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Heartwarming, heartbreaking, emotional, evocative, a beautiful window into teenage life struggles that many can relate to regardless of identity. I laughed and cried and smiled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
raheadley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
wayward_kat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
ryel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
- 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
4.5
I love the author's writing. The uneven length of chapters make the story more real. It resounds with people. Struggles vary from person to person.
zbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, death of a loved one, feeling alone…this book runs the gamut. The message being YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There are people out there who get it, get what you are going through, who will be there for you in your darkest time. That it’s ok to ask for help. My only “complaint” was the time hop. What was done to help Matt? Does Kermit ever really talk to his parents? I would have liked to learn more about the others in the group. Thank you to the author for writing this book and for all the resources provided at the end of the book.
kaywhiteley's review against another edition
5.0
CW: sibling loss, grief, mention of car accidents and drunk driving, rape culture, homophobia, bullying, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, religious trauma, depression, hospitalization
One thing about me is that I love reading books that hurt me. As a queer former Christian whose brother died when they were young, this is the type of book I wish I had when I was a young adult. The descriptions of grief, especially while still living with your parents and going to school with kids who do not understand what it's like to lose a sibling, were incredibly accurate and made me feel somewhat comforted in my experiences. Grief feels so lonely, especially when you lose a sibling, and this book made me feel much less alone and I wish I had it in those times when I felt most lonely.
I also appreciated that the book gave hope without being unrealistic. He found a group of friends to support and love him, but they're teenagers and sometimes they don't know how to support each other. He's queer and found people who accept him, but his parents didn't have a sudden, miraculous change of heart. Everything isn't perfect and I think that type of messy ending is representative of life.
Maybe I liked this book so much because of how much I related or how much my younger self needed representation like this, but I cannot overstate how much this book meant to me.
One thing about me is that I love reading books that hurt me. As a queer former Christian whose brother died when they were young, this is the type of book I wish I had when I was a young adult. The descriptions of grief, especially while still living with your parents and going to school with kids who do not understand what it's like to lose a sibling, were incredibly accurate and made me feel somewhat comforted in my experiences. Grief feels so lonely, especially when you lose a sibling, and this book made me feel much less alone and I wish I had it in those times when I felt most lonely.
I also appreciated that the book gave hope without being unrealistic. He found a group of friends to support and love him, but they're teenagers and sometimes they don't know how to support each other. He's queer and found people who accept him, but his parents didn't have a sudden, miraculous change of heart. Everything isn't perfect and I think that type of messy ending is representative of life.
Maybe I liked this book so much because of how much I related or how much my younger self needed representation like this, but I cannot overstate how much this book meant to me.
z_brarian's review against another edition
4.0
Grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, death of a loved one, feeling alone…this book runs the gamut. The message being YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There are people out there who get it, get what you are going through, who will be there for you in your darkest time. That it’s ok to ask for help. My only “complaint” was the time hop. What was done to help Matt? Does Kermit ever really talk to his parents? I would have liked to learn more about the others in the group. Thank you to the author for writing this book and for all the resources provided at the end of the book.
econsidine's review
This one has the honor of being the first YA book I've worked on and actually stopped to read because it was distractingly good. It's about a closeted teen (who, contrary to basically every closeted trope in fiction ever, never comes out to his family over the course of the story ) who recently lost his older sister in a car accident. Despite the weirdly cutesy title that doesn't reflect the tone of the book, the author writes about grief, alcoholism, homophobia, religious bigotry, and depression in a down-to-earth, non-cliche way that feels like it would be actually helpful and relatable to teens who are experiencing these things, unlike a lot of similar YA books with these topics (*cough cough* 13 Reasons Why *cough*) It's the kind of book I would really have loved when I was 16 or 17, and will save to recommend if I ever have any 16- or 17-year-olds in my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Addiction, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Car accident, Terminal illness, and Homophobia