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suepergurl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I gave it 2 stars only because I couldn't like the characters at all and they just live a very miserable life with no signs of hope. Also the ending is a bit traumatizing.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
kaiulanilee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Racism, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism
jlebon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is particularly frustrating in that I think the concept of the text is fantastic, being extremely dark in nature, presenting incel culture through the lens of the two main characters Polo and Franco and the destructive effect this mindset has upon both themselves and the people around them. However, Melchor has to be given plaudits in her nuanced presentation of such issues, cultivating characters that are products of their environment and aspects of society. Nevertheless, I do think that this was elongated to an unnecessary extent with a great portion of the middle of the text going over well-trodden ground. However, I understand how this could also be symbolic of the trapped mindset the protagonist Polo finds himself in.
As a final point, given the huge build-up to the climax of the narrative, I found the ending unsatisfactory in its briefness and confusing nature.
By no means a bad book but I definitely think it could have been improved in a multitude of aspects.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Emotional abuse
gerzonvillegas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Excrement
reading_sadie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
laneport's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing and Drug use
darbo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Paradais certainly was not a favourite of mine. Fernanda Melchor uses disgusting and vulgar language that might deter some readers, and make the ones that do decide to stick around uncomfortable. However, this is not a definite. I am sure there are also readers who do not mind that sort of language, and I obviously see the point the author is trying to make with this. It is quite clearly the voice of someone who is angry, and for good reason. At the same time as being a disgusting, misogynistic, and cynical piece of literature with absolutely unlikeable characters, it is also a voice that needs to be heard and an issue people need to talk about urgently.
However, let me warn you. This book fulfills all the trigger warnings you can think of; alcoholism, misogyny, violence, r*pe - just to name a few. And all of them are very much graphic at that.
Needless to say, this book was not the one for me, hence the 3/5 stars (3.5 on StoryGraph). I agree with the authors' point, but I disliked how they chose to portray it, even though such offensive language and violence is probably the right way to do it. Better to just read it for yourself.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
luna_snowfeather's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We follow 2 teens in mexico as they graple with their place in society. Melchor's writing makes you almost feel for them as you are brought into this intense moment in their lives, when they are really at their worst. What they do is horrific, and completely deranged.
I have seen many bad reviews for this book, and can put it down only to its very graphic writing. It is not for the delicate, and features very graphic and vivid images of sexual violence and complete madness. If that's not for you, then do not read this.
I found it so unbelievably adictive, I only wanted to continue. The pages practically turned themselves, especially at the end... I'd recomend to anyone who is mentally able to take it, it's not for everyone.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
izzzzzzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
solitary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Incest, and Pregnancy