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dododenise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
I’m a bit confused? I feel like parts of this story passed me by and I didn’t fully grasp them. I don’t know whether that is my fault or the books’. This books definitely needs some processing and I also kind of like that.
I still enjoyed reading this book. I was happy to revisit these characters that I’ve been intrigued with for several years now. I just don’t know what to do with that now.
I understand the choices for this story. I understand why the characters did what they did. But that still wasn’t all that satisfying. I like happy endings and this was, i don’t know, something else? It makes sense for this story that in its nature is different to your basic story. But that makes it also so odd to judge. I’m left confused on what to think. Perhaps that is also just the hollowness of finishing a book series that you were invested in.
I still enjoyed reading this book. I was happy to revisit these characters that I’ve been intrigued with for several years now. I just don’t know what to do with that now.
I understand the choices for this story. I understand why the characters did what they did. But that still wasn’t all that satisfying. I like happy endings and this was, i don’t know, something else? It makes sense for this story that in its nature is different to your basic story. But that makes it also so odd to judge. I’m left confused on what to think. Perhaps that is also just the hollowness of finishing a book series that you were invested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
writerres27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.5
4.5 stars overall. This book, and this series as a whole, was an emotional and philosophical rollercoaster. Above all else, I very much respect and appreciate Olivie Blake's ability to raise extremely contradictory yet equally valid feelings and convictions about society, existence, and human nature. I've identified heavily with many of the characters and their various imperfections and convictions across the entire series, and I found this conclusion to be an almost perfect conclusion for each of them. Perfect in the sense that it's *correct* and realistic, not necessarily that it's what we all hoped and dreamed for the characters. Also, as an aside, I recommend reading the acknowledgements if you've followed the series. It's a nice contextualization of why certain choices were made. Specifics (and spoilers) below!!!
Plot:
This is where the 4.5 fails to reach a full 5 stars. As is the risk of writing a story with many POVs, there are certainly circular, repetitive parts of the plot. This can make it confusing to follow the story's timeline and made the pacing inconsistent, though I'm sure that is somewhat intentional given the commentary the book makes about time. I just ultimately felt that, while I was in general agreement with the various plot decisions Blake made, because they felt accurate and authentic to the story, some of them weren't necessarily satisfying. I would also say that the numerous, intertwined conflicts occurring throughout the series and, specifically, this book, was also a challenge. Not an unwelcome one, as I feel they were all sufficiently explored and concluded, but it was definitely a lot going on that some readers may not do as well with as others.
Characters and Relationships:
This. This is where the bulk of the story falls. Every important character, as well as every important dynamic between characters, is dealt with one way or another. There are no loose ends, not really anyway, and the only characters whose storylines are left open are done so in a way that still gives the reader sufficient closure. At the end of the day, Blake achieves the goal of humanizing all of the characters, both for their humanity and their lack thereof. They are flawed, they are relatable, and they are real. To take such divisive and controversial characters and find a way to place them all, more or less, on equal footing by the end is a difficult thing to accomplish. Yet here we are. Normally I don't get into the nitty gritty in reviews, but I will give commentary on each of the main characters/relationships I appreciated in this story:
-Callum: The closest to understanding and redemption you could possibly get with this type of character. His ending is perfect, I can't imagine it ending any other way for him. If you'd told me at the beginning of the series that I'd be slightly misty eyed at Callum's death, I would've laughed. But Blake achieves the very difficult feat of using Callum to demonstrate that good and bad are subjective, that good people can do bad things and bad people can do good things, and that who you are and what you stand for can change and evolve from moment to moment. Callum grew on me in a way I could not have ever guessed.
-Parisa: The identity crisis we've all been waiting for. All I've wanted for Parisa all series is a sliver of authenticity, vulnerability, and humanness. We finally get it. To watch Parisa rise and fall throughout this book was affirming, to be quite honest. To watch her lose her poise, to crumple, and to still inevitably persist was validating.
-Reina: To accept the role she pushed so hard against for so long. A painful yet beautiful evolution. And for her to be able to shed her stubbornness, accept help, and embrace what is meant for her by the end was very fulfilling. Maybe it's just because she reminds me of a younger version of myself, but Reina's path was one of the hardest and, ultimately, most satisfying to follow.
-Tristan: Shockingly, I have the least to say about him. I hope (in the universe where the story continues) he gets satisfaction from the changes he's made, the things he's discovered, and the life he's able to lead now.
-Libby: Probably the most divisive character. As a reader who was frustrated by her continuously, but always ultimately understanding of her, I felt satisfied with this as the only logical ending for her. Some things, ultimately, never change, even if the entire world around us does.
-Nico: I cried. So very much. I saw so much of myself in Nico over the course of these books, especially this one. He is relatable, precioso, and deserving of goodness in a way the other characters aren't. Which is, of course, why he had to be the one to die. Despite having an itching feeling that this may happen, I was still shocked when the time finally came. Especially after all that was said between him and Libby the night before, which was perhaps one of the most *real* scenes I've ever read, it was so hard to accept and yet so prophetic.
Complex characters with even more complex relationships. I felt a strong satisfaction simultaneous with a deep ache to see their stories end how they did. As a series based on rage, pain, existential questions and no real answers, I knew I would have conflicting feelings when the end finally came. I'm just relieved none of these feelings were disappointment. I don't think the end could have gone any other way, and I feel Blake probably knew that from the beginning. I think she did a lovely job. I'm very happy to have read this series and look forward to a day down the road where I can read it again with fresh eyes and a different state of mind.
Plot:
This is where the 4.5 fails to reach a full 5 stars. As is the risk of writing a story with many POVs, there are certainly circular, repetitive parts of the plot. This can make it confusing to follow the story's timeline and made the pacing inconsistent, though I'm sure that is somewhat intentional given the commentary the book makes about time. I just ultimately felt that, while I was in general agreement with the various plot decisions Blake made, because they felt accurate and authentic to the story, some of them weren't necessarily satisfying. I would also say that the numerous, intertwined conflicts occurring throughout the series and, specifically, this book, was also a challenge. Not an unwelcome one, as I feel they were all sufficiently explored and concluded, but it was definitely a lot going on that some readers may not do as well with as others.
Characters and Relationships:
This. This is where the bulk of the story falls. Every important character, as well as every important dynamic between characters, is dealt with one way or another. There are no loose ends, not really anyway, and the only characters whose storylines are left open are done so in a way that still gives the reader sufficient closure. At the end of the day, Blake achieves the goal of humanizing all of the characters, both for their humanity and their lack thereof. They are flawed, they are relatable, and they are real. To take such divisive and controversial characters and find a way to place them all, more or less, on equal footing by the end is a difficult thing to accomplish. Yet here we are. Normally I don't get into the nitty gritty in reviews, but I will give commentary on each of the main characters/relationships I appreciated in this story:
-Callum: The closest to understanding and redemption you could possibly get with this type of character. His ending is perfect, I can't imagine it ending any other way for him. If you'd told me at the beginning of the series that I'd be slightly misty eyed at Callum's death, I would've laughed. But Blake achieves the very difficult feat of using Callum to demonstrate that good and bad are subjective, that good people can do bad things and bad people can do good things, and that who you are and what you stand for can change and evolve from moment to moment. Callum grew on me in a way I could not have ever guessed.
-Parisa: The identity crisis we've all been waiting for. All I've wanted for Parisa all series is a sliver of authenticity, vulnerability, and humanness. We finally get it. To watch Parisa rise and fall throughout this book was affirming, to be quite honest. To watch her lose her poise, to crumple, and to still inevitably persist was validating.
-Reina: To accept the role she pushed so hard against for so long. A painful yet beautiful evolution. And for her to be able to shed her stubbornness, accept help, and embrace what is meant for her by the end was very fulfilling. Maybe it's just because she reminds me of a younger version of myself, but Reina's path was one of the hardest and, ultimately, most satisfying to follow.
-Tristan: Shockingly, I have the least to say about him. I hope (in the universe where the story continues) he gets satisfaction from the changes he's made, the things he's discovered, and the life he's able to lead now.
-Libby: Probably the most divisive character. As a reader who was frustrated by her continuously, but always ultimately understanding of her, I felt satisfied with this as the only logical ending for her. Some things, ultimately, never change, even if the entire world around us does.
-Nico: I cried. So very much. I saw so much of myself in Nico over the course of these books, especially this one. He is relatable, precioso, and deserving of goodness in a way the other characters aren't. Which is, of course, why he had to be the one to die. Despite having an itching feeling that this may happen, I was still shocked when the time finally came. Especially after all that was said between him and Libby the night before, which was perhaps one of the most *real* scenes I've ever read, it was so hard to accept and yet so prophetic.
Complex characters with even more complex relationships. I felt a strong satisfaction simultaneous with a deep ache to see their stories end how they did. As a series based on rage, pain, existential questions and no real answers, I knew I would have conflicting feelings when the end finally came. I'm just relieved none of these feelings were disappointment. I don't think the end could have gone any other way, and I feel Blake probably knew that from the beginning. I think she did a lovely job. I'm very happy to have read this series and look forward to a day down the road where I can read it again with fresh eyes and a different state of mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Cursing, Blood, Murder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Death, and Violence
Minor: Dementia and Cancer
risemini's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Cancer, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Alcohol, Child death, Murder, Police brutality, and Dementia
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I have absolutely loved this series. Olivie Blake’s writing is nothing short of art with meticulous details and information at every turn. Every character is their own complete person, a universe in themselves. I could honestly read about each of them in their own separate books. After the end of TAP, I was wondering what would happen to all of the characters and how Blake would finish out the series. The audiobooks are works of art, so I highly recommend listening to them.
As for the final installment, I left feeling a bit disappointed. I felt like so much happened and yet nothing at all? I don’t really know if I can put it into words, but this book was just “okay” compared to the other two.
As for the final installment, I left feeling a bit disappointed. I felt like so much happened and yet nothing at all? I don’t really know if I can put it into words, but this book was just “okay” compared to the other two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Cursing, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Dementia, Cancer, and Confinement
kaylamullarkey's review against another edition
3.0
The whole series felt like a dream, but this book was a little disappointing; I wish more had happened in the end (there was so much potential!).
Other than that, I enjoyed seeing Callum continue to be a menace.
Other than that, I enjoyed seeing Callum continue to be a menace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Death
Minor: Cancer
ktkeps's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Toxic friendship, Grief, Police brutality, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Death, and Sexual content
mousmoulo's review against another edition
3.5
okay. so. hm.
i don't know what to say. i'm not rating this book because i have no fucking idea what to do with a single emotion that i'm feeling towards it.
(update: it's been a month but i finally settled on a rating lol)
saying that i finished this book would be a stretch, because the last 25% or so was mostly skimming. afternico's death i just sort of lost it. i can't believe i'm saying this but i sobbed for a solid half hour straight and then cried again and then again. so it's safe to say this book finished me. big rip. and then callum died too and gideon's epilogue happened and just when i thought it couldn't make me cry any more, boom. more tears.
anyway. i have no coherent thoughts and this is not a review whatsoever. i'm honestly just sad. i can't say i enjoyed it but i can't give it a low rating because it made me sob and, if anything, some of these characters will stay with me for a while. so there's that.
on another note, i waited an entire fucking year for the worst sadness i've felt in a while, so there's that as well.
anyway. as far as my predictions are concerned:
✅ nico will die: he did, and i want to die too
✅ gideon will probably die: unclear if he did, but i'll take it because i was smart enough to say probably
✅ regardless, NICOGIDEON ENDGAME: it's endgame to me. also they were the only unquestionably good thing about this book and they're eternally happy in my heart
✅ callum will die because it's been foreshadowed like 7429 times: rip to the funniest fictional character ever
❌ libby corruption arc: that wasn't corruption, that was libby being the absolute fucking worst
❌ reina might also die but i'm not as dead set on her as i am on the boys: good for me tbh. reina lives!
❌ the society will be destroyed: i skimmed through that bit but i don't think it did
✅ belen and libby reunion: well that was a given
❌ belen will probs die idk sorry queen: she didn't. slay queen or whatever
✅ probs no libbytristan endgame but let me hope: the way i was never big on novacaine but this book changed me lmfao libbytristan WHOMST i only know novacaine !
anyway. this is where i say goodbye to this series. i mean this in the most normal, least mentally ill but also most neurodivergent way possible: it feels like someone's ripping my heart out of me.
cheers, and thank you for the emotions or something
i don't know what to say. i'm not rating this book because i have no fucking idea what to do with a single emotion that i'm feeling towards it.
(update: it's been a month but i finally settled on a rating lol)
saying that i finished this book would be a stretch, because the last 25% or so was mostly skimming. after
anyway. i have no coherent thoughts and this is not a review whatsoever. i'm honestly just sad. i can't say i enjoyed it but i can't give it a low rating because it made me sob and, if anything, some of these characters will stay with me for a while. so there's that.
on another note, i waited an entire fucking year for the worst sadness i've felt in a while, so there's that as well.
anyway. as far as my predictions are concerned:
✅ nico will die: he did, and i want to die too
✅ gideon will probably die: unclear if he did, but i'll take it because i was smart enough to say probably
✅ regardless, NICOGIDEON ENDGAME: it's endgame to me. also they were the only unquestionably good thing about this book and they're eternally happy in my heart
✅ callum will die because it's been foreshadowed like 7429 times: rip to the funniest fictional character ever
❌ libby corruption arc: that wasn't corruption, that was libby being the absolute fucking worst
❌ reina might also die but i'm not as dead set on her as i am on the boys: good for me tbh. reina lives!
❌ the society will be destroyed: i skimmed through that bit but i don't think it did
✅ belen and libby reunion: well that was a given
❌ belen will probs die idk sorry queen: she didn't. slay queen or whatever
✅ probs no libbytristan endgame but let me hope: the way i was never big on novacaine but this book changed me lmfao libbytristan WHOMST i only know novacaine !
anyway. this is where i say goodbye to this series. i mean this in the most normal, least mentally ill but also most neurodivergent way possible: it feels like someone's ripping my heart out of me.
cheers, and thank you for the emotions or something
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Minor: Death of parent
s_l's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
1.5
This book is fantastically bad, but some parts closer to the end did read sort of fine, like they were actually planned in advance unlike the rest of this bullshit, so it's not completely one star
Other than that I can't believe how bad it was even considering my low expectations from the previous two
Also, for fuck's sake, it doesn't need this many complicated words, some of the oh so ✨✨✨cool✨✨✨ and ✨✨✨smart✨✨✨ sentences that were made exclusively for fancy quotes don't even make sense and only make the text absolutely unnecessarily obscure
Other than that I can't believe how bad it was even considering my low expectations from the previous two
Also, for fuck's sake, it doesn't need this many complicated words, some of the oh so ✨✨✨cool✨✨✨ and ✨✨✨smart✨✨✨ sentences that were made exclusively for fancy quotes don't even make sense and only make the text absolutely unnecessarily obscure
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Classism, Death, Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
giadena's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Cursing, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Confinement
errie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence