Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - A Quiet Kind of Thunder

This was a lovely book that had me going from start to finish. When we first meet our main characters we find that they both have differences from their classmates that make them stand out far more than they wished, but also makes their parents worried a lot more than they should.

Steffi was interesting to get to know because she is considered a "selective mute" which irritates her mother more often than not. When she meets Rhys a new student who happens to be deaf she finds that talking to him is easy.

The parental struggles of parents know best and the child trying to spread their wings was a major plot point here. This was sometimes hard to read because Steffi's mom and dad were complete opposites when it came to handling her future. When Steffi is worried she's failed at everything her parents finally come through for her and that was a relationship growth I wasn't looking out for. Her relationship with Rhys is sometimes frustrating and infuriating, but when you remember they are 16 you remember your first relationship and the angst and the lack of communication. Their relationship is less irritating angst and more trying to figure out how to be with other people.

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z_thatsit's review against another edition

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hopeful informative lighthearted fast-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

3.5

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fairy_internet's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

Read as the August #WickAndJaneBookClub pick on Instagram, the theme was d/Deaf/Hard of Hearing MC.

Rep: female MC with anxiety and selective mutism, deaf male love interest (possibly BIPOC, described as brown skin), MC's female best friend is unspecified BIPOC and possibly a refugee (best guess at ethnicity is Somalian based on last name). Several side character are deaf and use sign language, Syrian male side character.

CWs: Ableism, alcohol consumption (some underage), gaslighting, grief, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks/disorders, bullying, child death, car accident, infidelity, sexual content, racism.

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baponthecob's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

2.5

Ok listen. The romance was cute. I'm aspec, so those butterflies and lightning descriptions confuse me and this book was no different. But it was still enjoyable at first. I found myself relating a lot to Steff's social anxiety.
HOWEVER. Steff became so infuriating. She was worried about the wrong goddamn things. Her communication issue was always on her mind but the real problem was that she was inconsiderate. Tem was just giving so much emotional labor to support Steff and be happy for her and ask about Rhys and Steff just doesnt give the same energy. Tem's problems basically get brushed aside for Steff to have "character development." Same with Rhys. He was always understanding, but the second he tries to communicate something to Steff, she takes it personal and blows it out of proportion???
She's such a hypocrite too. There are multiple instances where she describes a feeling she has, but when Tem and Rhys tell her they feel the same thing, she gets frustrated at them??
And when they are rightfully upset she just wallows in self-pity. They forgive her way too fast, if you ask me. I actually thought those scenes were sweet! But it was just too easy. I wouldnt have a problem with that if she would just see that her problem was not her selective mutism or social anxiety. It was how she didnt bother to ask about Tem's problems, how she was quick to anger, how she didnt think of the consequences of her actions when going on a secret trip. And in the end she doesnt receive consequences at all. The issue was boiled down to her secrecy and insecurity, but that's not all it was.
It was just wrapped up so neatly for Steff while Rhys and Tem were left hanging. Rhys sounds like he should get therapy to work through his worries. What happened to Tem and college? What is Steff's consequence for running off the Edinburgh? What about Steff's supposedly most shameful moment that didnt drive the rest of the plot at all? Tem's experience with racism was used to just make a point that Steff was a coward at the beginning. I dont like how these POC were basically used to show Steff's ignorance and bad social skills so that she could "grow" at the end except her growth wasnt even related to those instances.
Also the sexual content made me uncomfy bc Steff is a minor 😟it wasnt graphic and I wouldnt even call it a "sex scene" but I didnt like it

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