Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

235 reviews

lilshelly's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

5.0

I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but sometimes that's the best option. We quickly meet Aristotle and Dante, both named after famous literary references. I found a small happiness in that revelation, letting my literary focused heart latch on to these young boys in their coming of age story. I also resonated with their desires to be known by something other than their parent-given names, and enjoyed the contrast in ultimate acceptance between the two. 

I deeply enjoyed the contrast in their characters and found myself resonating with both of them in different ways: Dante with his vulnerability and love of literature and Ari with his self-doubt and internalized anger. They balanced each other out in a beautifully poetic manner. All we really want in life is for someone to listen and allow us to be vulnerable. 

Reading this book allowed me to discover my own secrets to the universe. I hope others can find the same solace in the pages of Ari and Dante's journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: War, Transphobia, Medical content, Drug use, and Murder

grizzlysnack's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

Overall a good book! A wonderful message, and memorable characters to go along with it :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Car accident, and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Drug use, and Transphobia

Minor: War, Murder, and Death

chezoree's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

i did enjoy the book and it was rlly cute to read

the only part i didn’t like is the ending when the parents literally had to make him realize that he was in love with dante that felt a little rushed

besides that i loved this book rlly cute!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Homophobia

Moderate: Drug use

psitstorrie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Transphobia, Hate crime, Outing, Car accident, and Homophobia

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Death, and Drug use

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

For me, this was one of those books that I procrastinated reading cause I knew I would love it. And I did. I finished the audiobook in one day. I related to both of the protagonists quite a lot, but especially Dante... At times it hurt, cause we are just so similar. At times I found myself pausing to collect my thoughts, after the story clicked a little too perfectly with something that has happened to me, and it always felt profound. It was nice to read about healthy families for once. 

And I was so happy when they ended up together. I was worried that they wouldnt

 
This is a book I will continue to think about, and I will be reading the sequel asap.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Transphobia, Car accident, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual content

mattyb's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Drug use, and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy and War

alicia_g's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted slow-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

4.25

A good book, but it was a bit slow for me at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, Drug use, Car accident, Violence, War, Sexual content, Racism, Physical abuse, and Murder

danajoy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Aristotle Mendoza is 15 and has no idea who he is. 

This book feels so intimate. You're in Ari's head. He's complicated and sensitive.

I love the adult cast in this too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Violence, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Cursing

Minor: Cancer

alliskarathe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i adore them and the writing and lgtbqia books and that theres a second book and that this lived up to my expectations and that this made me cry and everything for a little while

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, War, Alcohol, and Violence

Minor: Murder, Animal death, Pregnancy, Death, and Racism

thesecretsapphic's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Medical content, Xenophobia, Violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, War, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Murder, Outing, Mental illness, Homophobia, and Hate crime