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nimeneth's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Warning: do not read this book unless your stomach is iron-clad, or you're okay with skipping big chunks of pages. Seriously, pay attention to the tags.
I wanted to be kind to this book. I wanted to accept that this was going to be a difficult book club read that was gritty and uncomfortable and dark. The blurb was amazing, had a great hook, interesting title, the whole nine yards. Objectively the dialogue was a little flat and the characters felt a little wooden at the beginning, but it would get better, right? I would get through this even if I had to skim or skip scenes, it would be fine, right? Right??? I was optimistic. I was open-minded.
I did not like this book. I did not enjoy this book. The first 100ish pages were fine, mostly. I could accept the racism and homophobia as just part of what it's like in parts of Virginia. The middle is where it started to sour. I especially did not like the last 100 pages of it where it turned into full-on revenge porn. It's graphic, folks. There's no art, just blood. No redemption arc, just death. I think Cosby wanted the final scene to be profound or something, but by that point there's no tying it up into a near little package and calling it hunky-dory.
I wanted to be kind to this book. I wanted to accept that this was going to be a difficult book club read that was gritty and uncomfortable and dark. The blurb was amazing, had a great hook, interesting title, the whole nine yards. Objectively the dialogue was a little flat and the characters felt a little wooden at the beginning, but it would get better, right? I would get through this even if I had to skim or skip scenes, it would be fine, right? Right??? I was optimistic. I was open-minded.
I did not like this book. I did not enjoy this book. The first 100ish pages were fine, mostly. I could accept the racism and homophobia as just part of what it's like in parts of Virginia. The middle is where it started to sour. I especially did not like the last 100 pages of it where it turned into full-on revenge porn. It's graphic, folks. There's no art, just blood. No redemption arc, just death. I think Cosby wanted the final scene to be profound or something, but by that point there's no tying it up into a near little package and calling it hunky-dory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Blood, Murder, Misogyny, Gun violence, Racism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Deadnaming and Cancer
gabepants's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia
tastybooks916's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Homophobia, and Murder
bf9288's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was immersed in this book. It was the kind of book that kept me up all night and wake up early to finish the story. Two fathers work together to find out who killed their sons. I loved the character development and how each father had to come to terms with themselves. Ike had to look at who he was as a father, and so did Buddy Lee. It's heartbreaking that they had to lose their sons to realize how poorly they had treated them. It's so realistic though. We don't always get the chance to apologize and say sorry. We don't always get to mend the broken hearts that we've created. Ike and Bobbi Lee learned to be better than they were in the past.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Vomit, and Racism
evawhite's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
literaryintersections's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
5.0
This book is absolutely unreal good. Every SA book I read feels better than the last except they are all amazing. Razorblade Tears is unbelievably sad - I knew that going in - but it’s sad and witty and tense. It’s violent and gritty and I loved it.
The main point of this book isn’t the vengeance or death or violence. It’s the love and community. And realizing as a parent that we can mess up so bad but there is still time to change and grow, even if that time is physically taken from us. I will think about this book forever.
The main point of this book isn’t the vengeance or death or violence. It’s the love and community. And realizing as a parent that we can mess up so bad but there is still time to change and grow, even if that time is physically taken from us. I will think about this book forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
bl_6210's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Deadnaming, Racism, Transphobia, Terminal illness, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Gore, Hate crime, Cursing, and Abandonment
eusteph's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I knew I would love this book less than 20 pages into it, and I wasn't wrong.
This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in that it deals with the topics of racism, homophobia, and transphobia in a very down-to-earth way. Honestly, if someone told me this was based on real life events, I would believe it, that's how well crafted it was.
Although the ending of the book was quite sad, it made sense and was the perfect way to wrap up this tale. I cannot wait to read more by the author.
This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in that it deals with the topics of racism, homophobia, and transphobia in a very down-to-earth way. Honestly, if someone told me this was based on real life events, I would believe it, that's how well crafted it was.
Although the ending of the book was quite sad, it made sense and was the perfect way to wrap up this tale. I cannot wait to read more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Hate crime, Racism, and Murder
trisarahtops_'s review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia
wynplus1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
I love my problematic old men
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Transphobia