Reviews with content warning for Murder - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

It's really difficult to write my thoughts about a book that I found to be very confusing at times. It's also quite difficult to explain why - most of it probably is the writing style's fault. It is very minimalistic and I have to admit that this isn't necessarily my favorite thing. When authors try to express everything in a few words it can easily seem a little pathetic - at least to my mind. And yes, that's what I thought here too - sometimes. At other times these one-to-three-word sentences, these half-a-page chapters really hit the spot.
Thus, Aristotle and Dante definitely made me think and feel quite a lot. Here too, I somehow feel pathetic because I guess that's exactly what the author wanted to achieve. But I have to admit: it worked. I certainly experienced a wide range of emotions, from feeling seen to being angry to being shocked to feeling touched to being annoyed to smiling at the pages in front of me. And at all times there was a certain dullness, a thing lingering in the air.
I'm not sure if it is that thing that was resolved on the last, very last page(s), I don't know if I want it to be. Because I feel like it would make everything that is so deep and entangled and there in this book unauthentically simple. But also ... it wouldn't. And even if it kind of seems like this in the end, I think it might be exactly what the story needed. These last to pages, this last sentence - I was just happy. Okay, maybe not just. But quite a lot.

Content Warnings

lilshelly's review

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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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justinareads's review against another edition

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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

5.0

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twilightfanboy's review

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adventurous emotional 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

4.75

I litterally cant say anything bad about this book I loved it so so much I cant wait to read the second one, the writing was beautiful.
Only thing I would say is

I kind of wish we had a bit more romance between the two of them and not only nearing the end but i don't mind it much the book was still absolutely wonderful and maybe there's more of that in the 2nd book

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bmreads's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.0

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xandry's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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meeklovestoread's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

Honestly, the one reason why this book wasn't five stars is because I've kind of gotten outgrown the whole "ya-coming-of-age" storylines. I've just seen them done many times so I recognize many of the themes the author was trying to portray, however, that doesn't mean the book's message and storyline didn't land. On the contrary, I teared up multiple times, and the last hundred pages completely destroyed me. I was sobbing beyond belief. Like I could feel the pain inside me (it left both a good and bad feeling in me, to be honest). I really identify with the main character, Ari (Aristotle). His struggles of finding himself, the pain he faces, the questions he has no answers to, the conflicts he faces with loneliness and anger really resonated with me. And I absolutely adored Dante through and through. And I loved their parents and the friendship that sprouted between them too. I didn't really expect this book to hit as hard as it did, but it definitely delivered on my expectations and I'm so happy to read the second book. However, I wasn't really sold on the romance part of this book. I feel like their friendship reigned true for me more.

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