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thelostbook's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault and Lesbophobia
toffishay's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I really connect with Melissa's voice. This is funny and a little morbid and dives more into the author and the reader than anything else; like all poetry it reveals the most about you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Xenophobia, Body horror, Gun violence, Death, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Dementia, and Alcohol
anniefwrites's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
In other books, I'd see asking questions like "Wait, who is this character?" or "Where are we?" or "What is actually happening right now?" as flaws in the clarity of the language. But in this case, as the title implies, Lozada-Oliva has set us up to dream, to float in that liminal space between reality and imagined narrative, between seeing and being seen. So I just went along with the confusion I sometimes felt, and that release of control over knowing everything for certain was really freeing. I also think that the core scenes were clear enough to create really strong images and moments. It made me think about the way that violence and love can sometimes seem like the same thing because they're both rooted in wanting. And Book-Melissa's journey from constantly wanting to be watched and wanting to be her own adored pop star to living in the unwatched, solitary, reality of existing rather than performing left me with a lot to mull over. I love the way Lozada-Oliva's voice jumps off the page in it snarky, self-aware humor and images of everyday life's minutiae. A weird book in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Murder, Death, Gun violence, and Gore
Minor: Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
whentheresteeth's review
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
I loved this book, though I knew I would. Melissa Lozada Oliva's poetry has always held a special place in my heart and this book now does too. I'll be forever grateful to her for teaching me about Selena and about girlhood and about poetry. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Violence, Misogyny, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Blood, Colonisation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
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