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emily_mh's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’ll always love a book with aroace rep and this was no different. Being aspec as a middle-grader is a unique experience, because people dismiss you on the basis of your age - even if they can accept allo kids knowing they’re allo. This is represented here, as is the confusion of trying to understand your aroace feelings in an allonormative world. I will say, and this isn’t a critique, that the aroace rep in Rick is less foregrounded than the trans rep in Melissa. (Again, not a bad thing, just setting expectations.) Instead, the focus here is on friendship.
Gino looks at friendship in two ways. The first is in the toxic friendship Rick shares with Jeff. Rick starts to realise that not only does this friendship make him feel bad, but that Jeff is an all-round jerk. In the meantime, Rick is also finding more positive relationships in the queer community of his school. Seeing this community grow and thrive was a joy, as was seeing Rick becoming more involved in it.
On top of its focus on friendship, the novel displays beautiful intergenerational love between Rick and his Grandpa Ray (who does DRAG!). Both benefit so clearly from this connection. I love seeing these kinds of relationships portrayed in media.
Although Rick claims to be a stand-alone companion novel, I would encourage you to read Melissa first as then both books will pack their full punch.
Rep: questioning aroace-spec MC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Bullying
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Ableism, Misogyny, Violence, Physical abuse, Vomit, Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: loss of a loved one, 1 lesbophobic l-slur, 1 HP ref
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