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dhughes10's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, and Sexual harassment
eliajor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was instantly drawn in within the first chapter, especially coming from my previous read this was a refreshing reset. I liked how Gabrielle's writing flowed however I found Sadie's character to be insufferable, Marx's character to be too perfect and Sam's character to be the silent tortured genius reminiscent of 'A Little Life'.
You know it's a good book when you can relate to all three of the characters however it felt like Sadie's character was constantly getting worse and she dragged the book for me. Many of the issues and miscommunication between her and Sam could have easily been resolved with a good talkwhich we sort of got at the end of the book but that should've came earlier, not after they've matured .
I liked how each chapter talked about a different concept whether it's a game or not. The NPC chapter did break me as I liked Marx but I found it so baffling that Marx would be with Sadie in the end .
I have no sympathy for Dov, infact I loathe the 'slightly self-aware but mainly arrogance' characteristic he has. Honestly have no idea why Sadie wasdriven to be in contact with him even towards the end and has somehow forgiven how he's treated her .
As for Sam,I hated how Sadie continuously blamed him for her emotions and didn't take accountability, nor did she show sympathy (which understandable she was also going through depression, but that doesn't give her an excuse to treat him like a punching bag) when Sam walked all the way over to her apartment to check on her whilst he was dealing with immense pain. It was torturous seeing Sam endure the loss of mobility on his own.
"What is a game? It's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever".
You know it's a good book when you can relate to all three of the characters however it felt like Sadie's character was constantly getting worse and she dragged the book for me. Many of the issues and miscommunication between her and Sam could have easily been resolved with a good talk
I liked how each chapter talked about a different concept whether it's a game or not.
I have no sympathy for Dov, infact I loathe the 'slightly self-aware but mainly arrogance' characteristic he has. Honestly have no idea why Sadie was
As for Sam,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
helenabianca's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Suicide
just_one_more_chapter_ok's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book which I both read and listened to.
Both Sam and Sadie made choices in what they revealed, or didn't reveal, that strongly impacted how they saw and felt about each other.
More than once I wanted to yell at the book that they needed to talk and not assume things about each other. Just share, but then I guess you wouldn't have conflict so you wouldn't have a book.
Both Sam and Sadie made choices in what they revealed, or didn't reveal, that strongly impacted how they saw and felt about each other.
More than once I wanted to yell at the book that they needed to talk and not assume things about each other. Just share, but then I guess you wouldn't have conflict so you wouldn't have a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Abortion
thestoriessofar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
rylanobrien's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Medical trauma
tinypotato21's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
mckjohn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Abortion
soggygarlicknot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I adored this book. I love the relationships and how complex and human everyone is. When a character is in the wrong, unless it's Dov, hated that guy, I can still love them in a way that proves the author truly understood people and made the charcters have such a depth that I don't usually see. Even the character I hated the most became one who I could appreciate at some points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
tbrnichols's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I really appreciated the seriousness that gaming was given, both as a past time and a creative art and the descriptions of how sacred and intimate a space gaming should be really rang true to me. I also appreciated the idea of a representative audience of one as the genesis of great creative works, especially since it sort of created "muse" as a super category for friends, lovers, rivals, and sometimes even acquaintances. I'm not sure if I think that Sadie got better at understanding someone through mere observation in the ways that Mazer seems to prefer and intuit, while he seems to have gotten much better at verbal explication, but the creation of gaming as a sufficient alternate feels justified as a hybrid, a synthesis, and a deeper examination of motivations along the lines of acting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer