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arlaubscher'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
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Classism, Colonisation, Homophobia, Racism, and Cursing
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage and Adult/minor relationship
teddie_valetine98'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage and Racial slurs
There are scenes that are graphic of sex work due to Jesse’s jobbookshelfhannah'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
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug use, Hate crime, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Alcohol, Bullying, and Drug abuse
sallygalula's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Hate crime
areadingstan'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? It's complicated
4.75
The descriptions are filled with so much detail, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming, more like Mendez is building up layers and layers of the city like a painting. It reminded me a lot of Bryan Washington’s Memorial, in the sense that there was a clear focus and theme that seemed to bring people together; in Washington’s novel this was food, but in Mendez’s, music filled this role. It was such a huge part of Jesse’s identity, and affected the way he saw himself and the world around him.
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
stormy_reading'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape
ramreadsagain'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? Yes
4.0
"When did you last read a novel about a young, black, gay, Jehovah's Witness man from wolverhampton who flees his community to make his way in London as a prostitute?" - Bernardine Evaristo.
I really liked this story of family, religion, identity and nationality (and also daddy issues). It's written so tenderly in a way that makes you really feel what Jesse feels as he crashes through early adulthood. I also feel like I've learnt a lot from it.
The last 100 pages were less good, featuring a 14 year time jump where a lot has magically developed and improved without us able to actually see Jesse experience it. I also found some of the commentary in the final chapters a bit heavy-handed.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, War, and Homophobia
Minor: Outing, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
louise010's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
the_bookishkat'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
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
sakisreads's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism