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debbie13410's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
kelseyland's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.0
Truly heartwarming found family story that's also about disrupting and dismantling oppressive social structures I mean what's not to love?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fatphobia
keen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
I came into this book immensely hesitant. I'm not a fan of romance. I find most stories to be either be too quick with the development, or so slow I forget it was even a part of the book. And overall, it's just not my thing. Additionally, I'm a fan of horror and thriller stories. So, aside from the urban fantasy and found family aspects, I thought I wouldn't get much from a "lighthearted" and "romance" book. This was not helped by me finding the main character, Linus, to be a very different protagonist than I expected: A 40-something year old child service worker with a stuffy, distant attitude.
I teared up three times, and by the epilogue, my eyes were so wet I had to wipe them with a paper towel to be able to see the words on the screen.
I very rarely cry from any story. When I do, I know it has ensnared me. I also very rarely think about books in terms of "Boy, I really wish people would write fanfiction about this." So imagine my surprise when I read nearly seven chapters straight.
The romance isn't the main aspect of this story. The main love story is Linus taking on a fatherly role towards the children in the 'orphanage' and how those kids grow to love him. The way each character developed was so subtle I barely noticed how much had changed until the end.
One complaint I had while reading this story was, "How is this described as lighthearted and middle-school reading?" The story almost feels dystopian at first. A society blatantly prejudiced against the supernatural, going as far as to harm children in its hatred. I'm a black, trans-masc person, so some parts of this story took me by such surprise that I was actually uncomfortable.
But that's not an actually a complaint. By the end of the story, I understood. It's a story about overcoming your own bigotry, learning from people you never expected to interact with (much less care for), and taking the first steps in changing society. Parts of this story gets dark, but I would happily hand this book to a pre-teen.
This story literally made me feel brighter. It made me more confident about choosing the best path in my life, no matter what society says it should be.
I teared up three times, and by the epilogue, my eyes were so wet I had to wipe them with a paper towel to be able to see the words on the screen.
I very rarely cry from any story. When I do, I know it has ensnared me. I also very rarely think about books in terms of "Boy, I really wish people would write fanfiction about this." So imagine my surprise when I read nearly seven chapters straight.
The romance isn't the main aspect of this story. The main love story is Linus taking on a fatherly role towards the children in the 'orphanage' and how those kids grow to love him. The way each character developed was so subtle I barely noticed how much had changed until the end.
One complaint I had while reading this story was, "How is this described as lighthearted and middle-school reading?" The story almost feels dystopian at first. A society blatantly prejudiced against the supernatural, going as far as to harm children in its hatred. I'm a black, trans-masc person, so some parts of this story took me by such surprise that I was actually uncomfortable.
But that's not an actually a complaint. By the end of the story, I understood. It's a story about overcoming your own bigotry, learning from people you never expected to interact with (much less care for), and taking the first steps in changing society. Parts of this story gets dark, but I would happily hand this book to a pre-teen.
This story literally made me feel brighter. It made me more confident about choosing the best path in my life, no matter what society says it should be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing and Murder
meganelise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Confinement and Death of parent
The only problem I had with this book was that I loved the characters so much and for the longest time was terrified their world would stomp out their light.mandkips's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Child abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
rini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: talk of weight, fat-shaming, and dieting (with pushback against it!)
I don't remember the last time I cried this many happy tears while reading a book!
And sad tears!
And laughed!!
This book has ALL the feels and all the delightful feel-good lovely unexpected characters and yes, they're queer, and no, it's not a big deal in the story, it just is, and yes there's talk of weight, fat-shaming, and dieting, but it's pushed back against throughout the book (except for right at the very start when Linus hasn't yet met the characters who push back against it, but that's hardly any of the book at all).
I don't even have a favourite character, I just love them all!
Though, my one little disappointment was that Zoe, Helen, Arthur, and Linus couldn't all adopt all the kids together...
I don't remember the last time I cried this many happy tears while reading a book!
And sad tears!
And laughed!!
This book has ALL the feels and all the delightful feel-good lovely unexpected characters and yes, they're queer, and no, it's not a big deal in the story, it just is, and yes there's talk of weight, fat-shaming, and dieting, but it's pushed back against throughout the book (except for right at the very start when Linus hasn't yet met the characters who push back against it, but that's hardly any of the book at all).
I don't even have a favourite character, I just love them all!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Xenophobia
cakrolik's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The best book I’ve read in 2020 so far and definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read. My heart is so full and so happy after reading this tale and I’m sad that it’s over.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
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