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iris_lrf's review
- 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
4.0
There's quite a lot of gay sex in this book. As a trans lesbian, penile activities are something I generally try to avoid, but it doesn't hurt my opinions of the book as a whole. It's not just yaoi, it's sex with a purpose, sex that tells us something about the characters and their relationships.
And then there's the other half of the book. The magic realism half. I do not like magic realism.
All in all, though, amazing book. Would absolutely recommend to anyone struggling to understand or come to terms with an LGBT+ identity, religious/family trauma, or a past relationship. I cry much less often than I should, but Release got me damn close.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Murder, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Outing, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Violence, Mental illness, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Blood
hayleythegoose's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing and Child abuse
Minor: Blood
rayne_1906's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
carolined's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Like in 'The rest of us just live here' you have teenagers so caught up with their petty issues they don't realise the world is in danger however it's not so jarring this time as they have no way of knowing about the existential threat.
Anyway, there are two plot lines here, one of Adam dealing with teen drama somehow all condensed into one day and one of Katherine, somehow raised from the dead and not sure what's going on.
Unlike most of the other reviews so far I found Katherine's story far more tragic and compelling.
Also some reviewers have said that the religious bigotry is realistically portrayed, but for people outside the USA who don't have this normalised it's 'Oranges are not the only fruit' or 'Purple Hibicus' levels of crazy.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death