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julee_melii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Death
Minor: Blood and Suicide attempt
amoonymess'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Murder, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Stalking, Torture, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Outing
soulsafire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Alcohol, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
convalaria98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
personally: 5☆
If you haven't read this book before, pay attention to the trigger warning for the series.
You'll probably love this series if you like sporta anime or soap operas. Nothing about the plot is realistic, but it sure is engaging. The characters are all deeply flawed, yet written in a way that humanizes them.
Would recommend if you like your books full of bat-shit-insane drama and flawed (but relatable) character.
Would not recommend if youre looking for a serious book or beautiful prose.
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Rape, Addiction, Blood, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
"moderate" tag are things mentioned, but not in great detail OR content later in the seriesnorarenate's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Violence, Self harm, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Physical abuse, Addiction, Cursing, Sexual assault, Rape, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Eating disorder
bookishstevie's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Murder, Blood, and Grief
riv_erb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Self harm, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Death, Child abuse, Blood, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Death of parent
emintobooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I struggled with this one. I've wanted to read this series since it originally came out. Every few months, I'll put it on my to do list and just... not, because it's a bad habit I have. I recently saw a post online about it and got the e-book because it was on sale for free. Well. I'm glad I finally checked it off my to do list, but I won't be reading the others. This was a hot mess and not in a fun way.
I sent this message to my friend about it "This book is very 'this boy squad is edgy and dark. Their past is strewn with violence and drugs. Cigarettes are hot' " I stand by that, and on top of it, it was confusing. The whole time, I couldn't figure out what was going on. I felt like I was reading a prologue, and like I was expected to already know the characters. All of the main characters are different shades of the same color. They didn't feel distinct from each other. Honestly, they're all insufferable, and I found myself wondering if we were actually supposed to like them. The plot was very vague, and there are some major parts of the main character that are never explained, again, as if we should already know. When I reached the end of the book, there was a list of characters and what their roles are. Sure could have used that at the beginning.
Other issues: The characters are violent drug users, and that can totally have merit in a book. Here, it felt like there was no rhyme or reason for the violence or drug use.
[Spoiler] There also was a scene where one of the characters spikes the main character's drink. While he is drugged, another character forcefully kisses him without consent. When he tries to escape, the character does it again. Books can't always be roses and sunshine, but this was totally glossed over. We never even find out how the main character feels about this assault and drugging. [/Spoiler]
The story also involves a made up for the book sport, called Exy. Unlike other books I've read with made up sports, this really didn't explain the sport. By page 66, I know the game is called Exy, a racket is used, a court is played on, and offense and defense are terms used. There is a ball, but I don't know what size, shape, or color. I have no idea how the game is played. When the characters are practicing I have no clue what they are doing. Later, there is a game of Exy that goes on for pages, and I had *zero clue* what was happening. None. I didn't understand at all and couldn't wrap my brain around who was where and doing what and what is the goal of the game? Can you score? How do you win? What do the balls look like? ????
[Spoiler] There also is a scene where two of the characters are on a talk show and the dialogue was just... I had to suspend my disbelief for the thousandth time. [/Spoiler]
This book could have used a heavy dose of professional editing, though I suppose it's too late for that.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Ableism, and Drug use
Moderate: Domestic abuse
marimaia's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked.
Foi muito estranho ler a tradução pt-br pela primeira vez, e não posso dizer que foi uma experiência boa nesse ponto. Tem erros mas, principalmente, muitas traduções não fizeram sentido, algumas por serem frases extremamente toscas (quando no original são frases bem mais sensíveis e importantes), enquanto outras por serem palavras que ninguém nunca fala ou sequer sabe o significado.
De resto, continua sendo meu livro queridinho. Não tem palavras que expliquem como eu amo essa história e como ela é importante pra mim, e cada vez que leio fico mais grata de ter os foxes na minha vida.
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Self harm, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Blood, and Vomit
katieo156'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
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts