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shannahtan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I feel this book was way too dramatic. Jenna’s depression made Rick stay with her until he realized he loved Ever. But, he’s a “good guy” because he just almost kissed her not actually kiss her?! Also, the car accident with her dad before she performs bo staff in the talent show on basically a sprained ankle and dislocated shoulder was ridiculous.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
savanah's review against another edition
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide attempt
Minor: Self harm
nichu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Self harm and Mental illness
courtnoodles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Violence, Sexual content, Vomit, and Infidelity
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual assault, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs and Blood
princessm'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: Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Body shaming, Chronic illness, and Classism
revengesrose'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
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Blood, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, and Self harm
ursdayanaa's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Self harm
rebecca_t's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
ara's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I was told that this book was the YA Crazy Rich Asians. Now if you know me, you how much I love everything Kevin Kwan has written. However, after reading this book I must confer, this book is nothing like the CRA trilogy. It is quite entirely in a class of its own. If there is a need to simile this book to something, I would say it moreso Mulan (minus the war and Mushu) meets Mean Girls and When Dimple Met Rishi.
This story is very much character driven. The main conflict/resolution is very predictable. I saw it coming a mile away. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I still enjoyed seeing everything unfold. Seeing Ever clumsily navigate through a tornado of obstacles was so refreshingly. Too often in YA contemporary (esp. romances), I feel like solutions are come across too easily. There’s a conflict and then pow there’s a solution, all problems get solved and they all live happily ever after. In Loveboat, the consequences of the main conflict were obstacles that handicapped the main character until the end of the book. It was very messy and real and I loved every minute of it.
I really like Ever. I understand her on a personal level. I can’t say I relate to her story exactly, I’m not Chinese-American, nor am I a first-generation immigrant, and I am blessed to have parents who are very supportive and accommodating to my dreams. Yet, I really connected to her internal struggle. I know what it’s like to be bound by family responsibility. I too have parents that sacrificed everything for me to be afforded the best opportunities. And it is expected that I, in turn, make all their sacrifices worth it.
When Ever’s mother revealed she had sold her necklace for her ticket, I gasped. Because I could very well see my own mother doing something along those lines. When you have a parent that loves you that selflessly and fiercely, what can you do? You’re not going to bite the hand that gave you everything. No, you’re going to get on the plane and spend a summer in a foreign land even if you don’t want to.
And yeah some people are going to shake their heads and tsk,tsk. You have to stand up for yourself they’ll say. But those people do not understand. And there are times when you lose yourself. When every action is based on “what will my parents think?”. Even though it all came crashing down in the end, seeing Ever break free and do all the crazy things imaginable was a blast and a half. And the heart-to-heart she has with her father near the end had me on the brink of tears. Dare I say it was better than when Mulan came home.
What a sweetheart. His backstory really moved me, it’s another one of those cases where you never really know whose suffering or what people are sacrificing.
He was a bit mood swingy in the beginning, and I had my eyebrow raised. But he always came back and explained and apologized. Like mature people do. I couldn’t really find much fault with him, much to Ever and my annoyance. Hey I guess some men really are evolved.
The only thing I will say, because I refuse to let him get off scot-free, is I wish he had communicated better. I think he was a bit too vague and “mysterious” at times. He could have just told Ever Xavier had it out for her. I feel like a lot of problems got blown out of proportion because of lack of communication.
Sophie
Don’t like her, sorry not sorry. I’m all for brash mistakes, I’ve made a couple myself. But what Sophie did was not a mistake, she intentionally set out to hurt Ever. And I’m not saying what Ever did wasn’t wrong, it very much was, but she didn’t deserve that.
Not to mention, Sophie repeatedly took advantage of Ever’s trust.
I understand why Ever chose to forgive her and move on, and I do believe Sophie regretted her actions. But I didn’t feel like her redemption was earned. The extent of her crime did not match the time. What she did was so awful and extreme, and she could have been a lot more remorseful.
For now, I hold a grudging respect for her, she has a lot stacked against her, and yet she does fairly well considering. I’m going to give her room to grow because I too am evolved. But I’m keeping one eye open🧐
Xavier
The verdict’s not out on this one. I don’t dislike him, but I don’t like him either. The fact is he led Sophie on, knowing full well he liked Ever. Which is wrong on so many levels. So much would have been avoided if he was upfront about how he felt.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Sexual assault
rainbowsnorlax's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts