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Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
4 reviews
whatamidoing_rn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I thought it was an okay book. Some of the stories I really enjoyed and some of them not so much. Some of my favorites were “and they don’t kiss at the end,” “willows,” and “every shade of red.” “Willows” was so good I really liked the concept and I wish it was its own book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Homophobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
abrose2001's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This collection of shorts stories has something for everyone, with some stories being incredibly realistic, others being rather idealistic, and some being a mix of the two. The balance of fantasy and realism between the stories was nice, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Death, and Homophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
flordemaga's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I’m not always one for short stories, but a friend bought me this book. He knew I’d like it. And I did! I like all the sapphics.
I’d have wanted some trans women. It seems trans women are so often forgotten or left out of narratives they should be a part of.
Technically, averaged out, it would be 3.13 stars. But I give this anthology 4 stars, because it’s ballsy, and I think well-edited too.
Here’s a breakdown…..
1. Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.25☆
The world building is very clear… you can just tell that the author really loved writing this.
2. The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker - 5☆
I love pirates, and am therefore incapable of giving this any other rating.
3. And They Don't Kiss at the End by Nilah Magruder - 3.25☆
I liked it, but it felt both too long and too short.
4. Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee - 3.75☆
Too many details about boners for me to truly love, but the writing is lovely… I like how it sort of builds and un-builds expectations.
5. The Dresser and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley - 4.75☆
I love all the little details! I am a sucker for history, after all. And they’re sweet and intimate… just verty lovely.
6. New Year by Malinda Lo - 3☆
I can never get into stories set in the 40s or 50s, and the writing style / tense mix lost me, but I liked the main character.
7. Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler - 4☆
So heartfelt. It felt very real, like it could happen.
8. The Coven by Kate Scelsa - 2☆
Not my thing.
9. Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake - 4.25☆
Very good, but I think it’d be a better full book!
10. Willows by Scott Tracey - 1.25☆
I really don’t get this one and cannot get into it at all. I had to put the book down for a bit after this one.
11. The Girl with the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe - 3.75☆
This one’s cute. I love the magic… but it feels rushed.
12. The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez - 1☆
I don’t like stories where an adult and teenager relationship is posed as okay. I know history, I just… don’t like it. I don’t think it helps anyone to pretend it’s fine.
13. Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger - 3☆
This feels more modern than I thought it would.
14. The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan - 4.25☆
Very sweet. The perfect length for a story like this.
15. Three Witches by Tessa Gratton - 3.75☆
The extreme catholicism of it all.
I don’t like the ending though, but I just dislike poetry.
16. The Inferno and the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson - 2.75☆
Not my thing. I read a book on circuses recently… I didn’t like it either. (Magic, circuses, all related, in my head). I just can’t quite get into it. But I like the main character’s voice.
17. Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia - 3.5☆
The first sentence is so lovely. I don’t like the plot much, but the writing style is very careful, which I appreciate, and the world building feels solid.
I’d have wanted some trans women. It seems trans women are so often forgotten or left out of narratives they should be a part of.
Technically, averaged out, it would be 3.13 stars. But I give this anthology 4 stars, because it’s ballsy, and I think well-edited too.
Here’s a breakdown…..
1. Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.25☆
The world building is very clear… you can just tell that the author really loved writing this.
2. The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker - 5☆
I love pirates, and am therefore incapable of giving this any other rating.
3. And They Don't Kiss at the End by Nilah Magruder - 3.25☆
I liked it, but it felt both too long and too short.
4. Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee - 3.75☆
Too many details about boners for me to truly love, but the writing is lovely… I like how it sort of builds and un-builds expectations.
5. The Dresser and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley - 4.75☆
I love all the little details! I am a sucker for history, after all. And they’re sweet and intimate… just verty lovely.
6. New Year by Malinda Lo - 3☆
I can never get into stories set in the 40s or 50s, and the writing style / tense mix lost me, but I liked the main character.
7. Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler - 4☆
So heartfelt. It felt very real, like it could happen.
8. The Coven by Kate Scelsa - 2☆
Not my thing.
9. Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake - 4.25☆
Very good, but I think it’d be a better full book!
10. Willows by Scott Tracey - 1.25☆
I really don’t get this one and cannot get into it at all. I had to put the book down for a bit after this one.
11. The Girl with the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe - 3.75☆
This one’s cute. I love the magic… but it feels rushed.
12. The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez - 1☆
I don’t like stories where an adult and teenager relationship is posed as okay. I know history, I just… don’t like it. I don’t think it helps anyone to pretend it’s fine.
13. Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger - 3☆
This feels more modern than I thought it would.
14. The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan - 4.25☆
Very sweet. The perfect length for a story like this.
15. Three Witches by Tessa Gratton - 3.75☆
The extreme catholicism of it all.
I don’t like the ending though, but I just dislike poetry.
16. The Inferno and the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson - 2.75☆
Not my thing. I read a book on circuses recently… I didn’t like it either. (Magic, circuses, all related, in my head). I just can’t quite get into it. But I like the main character’s voice.
17. Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia - 3.5☆
The first sentence is so lovely. I don’t like the plot much, but the writing style is very careful, which I appreciate, and the world building feels solid.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Death of parent
Skip The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy if you don't want to read about a sexual encounter between an adult and a minor.magicalghoul's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I was really looking forward to allotting some time to read this since it's been on my to-read list for Ages. Overall it's an enjoyable anthology and I'll definitely look up some of the authors here so I can read more of them.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship
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