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dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
1.5
Although it's not the worst book ever, it's also not the best. I thought the representation was fantastic. But aside from that, the book felt uninteresting. First of all, this book is advertised as being for young adults. While it's true that a young adult book can address issues like rape, sexual assault, and abuse, this one did so while using extremely disturbing and descriptive language.
Second, I detested the majority of the characters. Most of them weren't even all that unlikeable. Reading the dialogue between the characters makes me think a lot of 2013 Wattpad, and not in a good way. The characters enjoy helping one another out. It's possible to kill someone and then explain that you have to because you're depressed. I get why the author decided to incorporate a ride-or-die friendship, but if they keep giving one other the benefit of the controversy rather than calling each other out on their nasty behaviors, it isn't a true friendship.
Thirdly, I believe the writing of the characters was really problematic. Jordan and his friends have a "inside joke" where they hand out passes to one another. One can get away with anything, for instance, because they are cisgender and white, whereas the other can because they are gay and it would be homophobic not to. The jokes about skin tones and equating max's skin tone with food persisted among Max's friends. It's repulsive.
Additionally, the conflict was not adequately addressed, which raised the suspicion that these two wouldn't be together for very long. What makes a successful rom-com? A happy conclusion! Even though the conclusion was undoubtedly joyous, it raised some issues. Without giving anything away, the conclusion was really disappointing. The storylines involving Jordan's mother, Max's PTSD, and Max's baseball team are all left open-ended. Only the romance between Jordan and Max remained as the "completely solved" problem in this situation; everything else was left out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Moderate: Racism and Death
Minor: Homophobia
rosage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
1.0
my high school self would have loved this book. however it’s is very much trauma bonding and their whole relationship is built bc of their two personal traumas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Adult/minor relationship
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