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zoejulvecourt's review
4.25
Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Addiction
neverlandpages4'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Chronic illness, Suicide, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Death
lainiewill'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
4.75
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Car accident, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Drug use, Death, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Self harm, and Death of parent
cassidyemaier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Child death, Gun violence, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Racial slurs
jikuuu08'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
4.75
the way the words were constructed into a blade slicing deliciously into my throat, having me in a chokehold.
the way you THOUGHT the back stories lined up, but really the truth comes and you drop to the floor staring at the ceiling, mind blown.
this book was so beautiful to read and it had me grasping for more, WAITING for a moment where i could continue reading, the anticipation to what would happen next.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Drug use, Cursing, Car accident, Grief, Drug abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
withlivjones'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
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, Racial slurs, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
sarahmae531's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, Gun violence, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Chronic illness, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Murder
Minor: Racial slurs
_inge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
That being said, their love not being perfect did mean I found the plot itself a bit confusing. Their past romance was a very intensive week together. It’s stated that their connection throughout this was imminent and perfect, so it was definitely believable it had such an impact, but it could’ve easily been perceived as a quick summer fling. I was so wrapped up in these characters that I didn’t really think about it as I was reading though! There’s some miscommunication at the end which could’ve clearly been avoided if people just… stayed in touch, and from the last few chapters the narrative structure really does feel like any other romance book. It felt really original and interesting at times, but still felt into romance tropes anyways. This meant I wasn’t sure if this book would put itself against other romances or if it was meant to be a criticism on them.
The writing style was infused with (black) pop culture references and brands, which got annoying quickly. People would wear Dior dresses which make them look like someone from a music video by Rihanna, people wouldn’t simply pick up their phone but their Samsung Galaxy…. I just opened this book at a random page to find examples, and I already got ‘Serena Williams fused with Wonder-Woman’ and ‘Morgan Freeman in that specific film’. It seems there’s got to be a reference to something on every single page.
Audre especially uses terminology and modern ideas about topics like race and gender in a way that felt jarring sometimes. There’s a segment where Audre sits with kids who she thinks are all ‘mentally ill’, because she thinks they’ve got disorders like OCD and ASD, and then wonders what’ll happen to these ‘psychos’ when they grow up ??? I never understood the purpose of these segments; they address actual issues, but the tone makes it seem like these segments are meant to be funny.
There’s also a lot of time shifts as well as perspective shifts, but they’re not clearly marked in any way and don’t happen within a set pattern. At certain times I was therefore unsure whether I was reading about a past event or not. When Eva calls her mum at one point I was certain this was a past event, until she discusses things which happened in the present.
A lot of these ‘issues’ I’m only considering in hindsight. I really wanted to keep reading this and didn’t want to put it down. The ending wasn’t fulfilling to me in any way, which is maybe why I’m considering other aspects of this novel now too. But I was hooked on this for a while, and for the most part I do think it did something interesting within the romance genre.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Self harm, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, Child death, and Addiction
coralie_michon's review against another edition
4.5
this book was truly impactful. it was complex and raw. it examined many important and hard themes in such an intense and personal way. this book was so realistic, the writing was beautiful and engaging. the characters were imperfect and authentic and so endearing. i just wish we could’ve seen a little more of their past to understand more their behaviours (also kinda wish audre was acting more of her age sometimes i couldn’t understand how she wasn’t 16?!?).
tropes: second chance romance, bookish setting
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Addiction, and Self harm
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Rape, Vomit, Drug abuse, and Colonisation
katelynprice'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
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, Addiction, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, and Suicide
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual assault