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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
medium-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
This book covers a wide breadth of the AIDS epidemic, and what it means to be the survivor. There are some moments that have that aching emotional resonance that kind of empties you out. There are some moments that felt heartbreakingly familiar. But because there is such a diverse cast of characters, it felt like some character work still needed to be done. Despite being the protagonist of the entire 2015 plotline, I didn’t feel like Fiona was entirely fleshed out in the same way that Yale was. I wish we’d seen more of Fiona’s relationship with Claire. It would’ve given the Paris plot more weight. In the same vein, though what we have of Fiona and Yale’s friendship is genuinely moving, it only felt like a small piece of the overall plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was really engaging, I learned a lot and still enjoyed myself even though it was obviously a depressing book.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a powerful and moving read. The author does an incredible job capturing the pain and heartbreak of the 80s/90s AIDS epidemic with honesty and compassion. The characters felt so vivid and real that I felt deeply connected to their experiences. I especially loved the way the story shifts between the height of the epidemic and 2015, offering a fresh perspective that deepens the emotional impact. Fiona’s reflections added a new layer that brought the earlier story to life in a beautiful way. I’m really glad I read this book—it stayed with me long after the last page. I’m glad to have read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
No