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caitlink's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Racism
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
[First posted to my blog]
Content Warnings: racism, alcoholism, violence, captivity, anxiety, confinement, murder, hanging, and graphic injury.
I feel like it’s becoming a trend but…here is another book I bought, almost a year ago, and finally read…and it was AMAZING!
I’ll be honest, when I first started reading this I was a little worried I wasn’t going to get into it. Luckily, I always like to read at least 25% of a book before I decide whether or not to DNF. Slow start, or at least that’s how I felt, but it really started picking up around 18% [I want to say] and took me on a journey. Reading through this book became heavy at times and I needed to take breaks here and there, for my mental health, to listen to cheerful music or watch something comedic.
Janelle, or Ellie, a black, demi-ace, plus-size teen was easy for me to relate to as was her love of books and music. Media forms, like books and music, have always had a way of changing how I feel, no matter how upset/angry/sad I am a good book or a killer playlist can have me smiling, and laughing, in no time. Personally, I don’t even want to imagine a world lacking music and books that allow us to escape reality, and sometimes help us work through our own reality.
Throughout the book, there are tons of pop culture references which I loved! From classic quotes to song titles to books mentions some just giving us breadcrumbs to guess what they are…I loved it all. I bought a physical copy of this book before I ended my BoTM subscription [I really have too many physical books on my tbr to be on any subscriptions *insert nervous laughter here*] that I plan to go through and highlight all the different references. I love the idea of piecing together a playlist with all the songs they mention throughout the story. I decided to read my Kindle version [yes I’m guilty of being multiple formats before reading] mostly so I could highlight and add my favorite quotes to Goodreads easily.
This story, although overall sad [what with the alien takeover and banning of music/art/books/etc], was filled with a silver lining whether you think of all the pop culture references or the deep connection Ellie and M0Rr1S make over them. I can definitely see myself re-reading this book. I’m also very excited to get my hands on a copy of “The Kindred” as, although I couldn’t find anything online saying so, I think there may be a connection between the two books.
Content Warnings: racism, alcoholism, violence, captivity, anxiety, confinement, murder, hanging, and graphic injury.
I feel like it’s becoming a trend but…here is another book I bought, almost a year ago, and finally read…and it was AMAZING!
I’ll be honest, when I first started reading this I was a little worried I wasn’t going to get into it. Luckily, I always like to read at least 25% of a book before I decide whether or not to DNF. Slow start, or at least that’s how I felt, but it really started picking up around 18% [I want to say] and took me on a journey. Reading through this book became heavy at times and I needed to take breaks here and there, for my mental health, to listen to cheerful music or watch something comedic.
Janelle, or Ellie, a black, demi-ace, plus-size teen was easy for me to relate to as was her love of books and music. Media forms, like books and music, have always had a way of changing how I feel, no matter how upset/angry/sad I am a good book or a killer playlist can have me smiling, and laughing, in no time. Personally, I don’t even want to imagine a world lacking music and books that allow us to escape reality, and sometimes help us work through our own reality.
Throughout the book, there are tons of pop culture references which I loved! From classic quotes to song titles to books mentions some just giving us breadcrumbs to guess what they are…I loved it all. I bought a physical copy of this book before I ended my BoTM subscription [I really have too many physical books on my tbr to be on any subscriptions *insert nervous laughter here*] that I plan to go through and highlight all the different references. I love the idea of piecing together a playlist with all the songs they mention throughout the story. I decided to read my Kindle version [yes I’m guilty of being multiple formats before reading] mostly so I could highlight and add my favorite quotes to Goodreads easily.
This story, although overall sad [what with the alien takeover and banning of music/art/books/etc], was filled with a silver lining whether you think of all the pop culture references or the deep connection Ellie and M0Rr1S make over them. I can definitely see myself re-reading this book. I’m also very excited to get my hands on a copy of “The Kindred” as, although I couldn’t find anything online saying so, I think there may be a connection between the two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism
jazdono's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
In part 1 of this book, I was really skeptical that I would finish it. The beginning dragged on, and the world building took quite some time. On top of that, it seemed that the author did not subscribe to “show, don’t tell.” Every bit of symbolism and representation was spelled out in a way that seemed like the author just didn’t trust her audience to get it.
However, once I hit Part 2 and the plot picked up, I found myself continuously wanting to keep reading. This was the first time I’d seen this type of representation in books for a lot of the identities that were in it, and I fell in love with the story for that. It was still predictable and there was a lot of telling instead of showing, but the plot and the characters were so heart warming and hopeful that I didn’t really mind.
I did choose this book after doing an online search for “LGBTQ Black stories”, because I have really been searching for diversity as the norm. This book did pretty good normalizing diverse characters without making the diversity the entire story. There were lots of current events and popular media referenced, from police brutality to Love, Simon, giving the book a grounded feeling to accompany its “head in the clouds” premise.
I would recommend this book especially to any middle schooler and high schooler out there who feels a bit lost—like they don’t fit in or like they don’t have a role to play in the world. I wish my younger self had had this book. If you’re older than that, I’d say this book is still worth giving a chance, but expect there to be parts that seem predictable or cringey. Those parts didn’t stop me from enjoying the book and its good moments, though.
However, once I hit Part 2 and the plot picked up, I found myself continuously wanting to keep reading. This was the first time I’d seen this type of representation in books for a lot of the identities that were in it, and I fell in love with the story for that. It was still predictable and there was a lot of telling instead of showing, but the plot and the characters were so heart warming and hopeful that I didn’t really mind.
I did choose this book after doing an online search for “LGBTQ Black stories”, because I have really been searching for diversity as the norm. This book did pretty good normalizing diverse characters without making the diversity the entire story. There were lots of current events and popular media referenced, from police brutality to Love, Simon, giving the book a grounded feeling to accompany its “head in the clouds” premise.
I would recommend this book especially to any middle schooler and high schooler out there who feels a bit lost—like they don’t fit in or like they don’t have a role to play in the world. I wish my younger self had had this book. If you’re older than that, I’d say this book is still worth giving a chance, but expect there to be parts that seem predictable or cringey. Those parts didn’t stop me from enjoying the book and its good moments, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, and Murder
brief (non-graphix) mentions of sex, one f-bombpaperbrownies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
3.0
- lgbtqiap+, ya, sci-fi, dystopian, alien invasion, star crossed lovers trope, books and music, queer normative society, your favourite musician with thirteen grammys can be an alien, just saying
- f|m
- bi/pan oriented demiace fat mc with anxiety, possibly demiace love interest, bi/pan sc, nonbinary sc using they/them pronouns
cw: colonization, alcoholism, confinement, execution, vomitting, gun violence, blood, hp references, racism, panic attack, genocide
- f|m
- bi/pan oriented demiace fat mc with anxiety, possibly demiace love interest, bi/pan sc, nonbinary sc using they/them pronouns
cw: colonization, alcoholism, confinement, execution, vomitting, gun violence, blood, hp references, racism, panic attack, genocide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, and Racism
Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
reading_between_the_trees's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-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
5.0
For me, this was right book, right time. I needed an escape, and a fast-paced space alien invasion with spot-on social commentary and my favorite trope: fictional music so good you with it were real, was perfect.
I loved the pacing and the characters had some serious flaws that were balanced out by redeeming actions and dire circumstances. That made for an intriguing development of the central relationship. There was ace rep within the relationship too!
The best part of the book though was the secret library! It exactly what would happen if a bookworm went through an alien invasion, and I loved that! It was also such a creative way to have an intertextual conversation with other great books, namely The Hate U Give.
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you're looking for something fast-paced to pull you out of a reading slump.
I loved the pacing and the characters had some serious flaws that were balanced out by redeeming actions and dire circumstances. That made for an intriguing development of the central relationship. There was ace rep within the relationship too!
The best part of the book though was the secret library! It exactly what would happen if a bookworm went through an alien invasion, and I loved that! It was also such a creative way to have an intertextual conversation with other great books, namely The Hate U Give.
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you're looking for something fast-paced to pull you out of a reading slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Racism, Murder, Confinement, Violence, and Vomit
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
3.0
I really, really, really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. Don't get me wrong, I did like it. I just wanted to LOVE it. And I did not, on the whole. I loved aspects of it: that asexual panromantic rep, those literary references, that plot twist at the end. And the concept is high key intriguing, and I felt like Alechia Dow's writing was CLOSE to doing it for me. But overall it just won't stick in my mind. Morris felt a tad too juvenile for me. I really liked Ellie as a character, and her arc is pretty strong, but I just wanted more from this one. Womp wompppp.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Xenophobia, War, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This book was solidly fine. The plot was very meandering, and a lot of the conflict felt forced. I liked the two leads, and they had a very cute relationship. It would be a good book if not for the end. At the end of the book, everything just kind of takes a sharp turn then another one then another one until you're not really sure what's happening. Some of the third act twists were set up well, but most felt like they came totally out of nowhere. And then everything just went whiplash fast in the last few chapters to resolve everything. It definitely brought the entire book down a bit.
Characters: 7
Plot: 6
Setting: 8
General appeal: 6
Writing style: 7
Originality: 8
Ending: 3
Characters: 7
Plot: 6
Setting: 8
General appeal: 6
Writing style: 7
Originality: 8
Ending: 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racism
princessnomi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Some parts were extremely like The 5th Wave but the music and book references were good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, and Murder
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Genocide, Racism, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Two years after the invasion and near-total genocide of humanity, and alien and a human bond over the power of music and a love of stories while they try to save the people who are left.
I love Ellie and I like Morris, their relationship takes enough time to deepen for it to not feel like trauma bonding, which is really important given the massive power gap when he's part of the alien invasion and she's trying to survive. This does a lot of great things well that I haven't seen much in YA, from frank and non-judgmental discussions of whether they've had other partners, to actually addressing how dressing for the apocalypse results in some physically uncomfortable and very hodge-podge outfits.
This has lot of really great characterization. Ellie repeatedly uses a calming technique to try and avoid panic attacks in stressful situations, or try and calm down when one is starting. I loved this narrative choice, because it conveys how anxious she is without constantly relaying her anxious thoughts. Switching between two narrators helps keep the lying from getting too stressful, especially when there are things that Morris doesn’t feel like he can tell Ellie, or Ellie isn’t ready to trust Morris with. They’re reliable narrators as individuals, but not always to each other, especially in part two, but part of the point of the story is how they work though that and learn to trust each other as they get closer. Part One felt a bit uneven with a lot of infodumps and a lot of explanations. It was trying to handle a lot of world-building really quickly, and it did a pretty good job, it just wasn’t to my personal tastes. Part Two had more room to maneuver now that the backstory was set up, and got into the first phase of the adventure. It also features a different kind of tension between the protagonists. Part Three focuses on the way their relationship is changing, and Part Four is about a final confrontation and what happens next. I liked the second half better than the first, but the plot arc is solid and I'm pretty happy with how it turns out.
I think I would love this book rather than just like it if I cared more about music. The story is extremely up front about being a love/save-the-planet adventure about connecting through music and books, and I loved the book bits and didn't care about the music bits, but they seemed to be well done. It's definitely a me thing, not anything wrong with the story. If you're a bit meh about music and connecting with people through it, then this won't be the book for you. If you're reading this review and slightly aghast that anyone wouldn't care about music, then you'll probably love this.
I love Ellie and I like Morris, their relationship takes enough time to deepen for it to not feel like trauma bonding, which is really important given the massive power gap when he's part of the alien invasion and she's trying to survive. This does a lot of great things well that I haven't seen much in YA, from frank and non-judgmental discussions of whether they've had other partners, to actually addressing how dressing for the apocalypse results in some physically uncomfortable and very hodge-podge outfits.
This has lot of really great characterization. Ellie repeatedly uses a calming technique to try and avoid panic attacks in stressful situations, or try and calm down when one is starting. I loved this narrative choice, because it conveys how anxious she is without constantly relaying her anxious thoughts. Switching between two narrators helps keep the lying from getting too stressful, especially when there are things that Morris doesn’t feel like he can tell Ellie, or Ellie isn’t ready to trust Morris with. They’re reliable narrators as individuals, but not always to each other, especially in part two, but part of the point of the story is how they work though that and learn to trust each other as they get closer. Part One felt a bit uneven with a lot of infodumps and a lot of explanations. It was trying to handle a lot of world-building really quickly, and it did a pretty good job, it just wasn’t to my personal tastes. Part Two had more room to maneuver now that the backstory was set up, and got into the first phase of the adventure. It also features a different kind of tension between the protagonists. Part Three focuses on the way their relationship is changing, and Part Four is about a final confrontation and what happens next. I liked the second half better than the first, but the plot arc is solid and I'm pretty happy with how it turns out.
I think I would love this book rather than just like it if I cared more about music. The story is extremely up front about being a love/save-the-planet adventure about connecting through music and books, and I loved the book bits and didn't care about the music bits, but they seemed to be well done. It's definitely a me thing, not anything wrong with the story. If you're a bit meh about music and connecting with people through it, then this won't be the book for you. If you're reading this review and slightly aghast that anyone wouldn't care about music, then you'll probably love this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Genocide, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, and Vomit
TW for Harry Potter reference (pages 68, 179, 363, 409, 425).