Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

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

8 reviews

br3anna_'s review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

I think this book did a really good job at capturing teenagers and their way of not understanding how their body works. 

But I feel at the end

when Ari decided he loved Dante. His dad shouldn't have been the one to shout it at him. Personally I think he should've had a dream where he finally sees its Dante.

It felt whenever Ari or Dante had character development. They didn't change correctly. I hope in the second book they do better with this change

Dante was getting on my nerves with this "Can't we kiss? Please? Please? Please?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Violence

oweatherwax's review

challenging emotional relaxing 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Car accident, Homophobia, and Cursing

Moderate: Sexism, Transphobia, War, and Abandonment

Minor: Transphobia and Toxic relationship

carrot2025's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I can absolutely see why this book has so many awards and deserves to so many more. It was an incredible read with a lot of heartfelt moments that really showed the challenges of being young and realizing your gay. So many times I was left crying and feeling for the characters. Watching them struggle and change and grow. It was all amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Hate crime

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Toxic relationship and Death

I think this story is absolutely amazing at handling a lot of different triggering topics in a way that's respectful and is actually useful to the story.

I think the use of the Aristoles brother killing a transvestite was perfectly handled. It didn't go into too much detail and it gave a lot of context for why his partner were so hesitant to talk about Aristoles aunt being gay. A lot of the homophobia mentioned isn't too detailed but it really helps give context to the time period and gives an important insight into the characters and why they act the way they do.

gabriella_'s review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Benjamin Alire Sáenz put so much heart into this book. I wish I read this when I was a kid - I think I would’ve enjoyed it more when I was younger. The way he writes dialogue is fun. The way he writes emotional availability (and unavailability) feels so textured you can almost touch it. The character dynamics - especially Aristotle’s and Dante’s - have a whimsy that makes you feel young while you’re reading. 

This is a quick read if you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up coming-of-age with substance! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, Homophobia, Drug use, Violence, War, Blood, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

elliereadsthings's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

A really cute story about a boy falling in love with another boy, what more could you want???

For some reason I absolutely LOVE the parents in this story, they’re amazing. I may even love them more than Dante and Ari themselves. 

The start was a little slow, but I swear this book just got better and better the further in I got.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“Dante. I really liked him. I really, really liked him.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Hate crime

Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Drug use, Cursing, and Sexual content

Minor: Murder, Grief, Classism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Transphobia, War, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Cancer

matheo's review against another edition

emotional reflective

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Grief, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, War, Body horror, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug use

buwubie's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Misogyny, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Grief

mermay's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Outing, Transphobia, Violence, and War

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gun violence

More details about the hate crime and outing:

Dante is seen kissing another boy in an alley. The other boy runs, but Dante stays and is beaten to the point of cracked ribs and hospitalization. Due to the circumstances, Dante is outed to both his parents and Ari's parents before he made that choice for himself.