Reviews with content warning for Death - Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World

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Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

131 reviews

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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

5.0

It’s rare that a sequel can measure up to the original, but this one does. The continuation of Ari and Dante’s story flows so beautifully from where the first book ended. You really feel for these characters as they navigate the transition between child and adult. I especially liked how they showcased the difficulty of confronting injustice and how joy and love and acceptance have to be fought for. a fantastic story that needed to be told and was told so well.

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navayiota's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

This was a great sequel! In some ways, mainly the romance, it was not as great as the first. But it made up for it with everything else. I agree with other reviewers about it being incredibly cheesy, it was at times annoying, but I like how it seems not to take itself too seriously. It wasn't crafted to accurately portray being gay in the 80s, it's a story. It accomplished what it set out to do. And I really appreciate that. However I also feel like it was trying a bit too hard to be quotable. That might be my only real complaint.

I love how they further explored Ari and Dante's relationships with their families, the plotlines about Ari's brother and his father's death tugged at my heart. As someone who had to go through the circus of getting over their first serious relationship and then dealing with a family death, it hit hard. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many things Greek culture shared with Mexican culture, especially about funerals/deaths. I really connected with that part of the book. Having gone through it, it felt incredibly validating to read about it. I relate a lot to Dante, and I kinda wish Ari hadn't followed him to Paris. I wish they just stayed friends. I wish there wasn't such a focus in our society on the couple ending up together in the end. I don't like how sugary sweet the ending felt, I think a bittersweet one would have been better, though heartbreaking.

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mororke's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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abby_reads_books's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

3.25

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chellybee's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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ryanshmyan's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring 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

This book is beautiful and devastating. I didn’t think I could like a book more than the first Aristotle and Dante and worried that this would ruin the story. But that was not the case. This book encapsulates the complex emotions of queer young people, navigating sex, love, fear/shame, and friendship during the early years of the AIDS crisis.

Prepare yourself to laugh and also cry. I cried pretty much constantly through the last half of the book, out of joy and also sadness. It was difficult to finish because it tugged so heavily at my heart. But it was such a beautiful read that I continued on.

I cannot recommend a book more than this one. I have so very rarely enjoyed a book as thoroughly. This is a 100% must read for everyone that enjoys a beautiful story.

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