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frogknitting's review against another edition
1.5
I really, really wanted to try to give this book a chance, but from the beginning I couldn't stop thinking about The Secret History. This is like the Kidz Bop version of it: a book that takes the basic structure of it but lacks the depth. It was entirely too long and yet it didn't have nearly the amount of time to go into what it needed to to succeed.
Though Richard isn't necessarily a carbon copy of Bunny, he takes his worst elements (as well as Henry's worst traits) and makes that his personality. No redeeming qualities, whereas I think Bunny had some? (I'm going to be honest, it's been a LONG time since I read TSH) At least, he was a lot better fleshed out. All of the characters in this were wholly one-dimensional, just being introduced at the beginning by name (all seven of them, by the way, so you have to fully know these people as well as
I genuinely want to write this review without consistently mentioning The Secret History, but I feel it's impossible. The draw of it is that it takes real moral questions and grapples with them, not letting plot rule it, but rather, letting the characters' musings take over. I know that's a personal preference of mine, but this was very much a show not tell book, where you simply were told what was happening and had to go with it.
The other characters: I have gripes with them because of how poorly written they are. Yes, it's the memory of a man ten years later, and yes, they're definitely not supposed to be good people, but there was really no need for a lot of it.
There's just a lot in this book, and none of it is developed particularly well. The consistent Shakespeare quotes were annoying, I agree, although I think near the beginning they were used more sparingly and better. It seemed scrambled together, meaning to meet a deadline, and there were no explanations for many of their actions beyond 1. plot convenience or 2. black mold. 1.5 stars because, as much as I've complained, the prose in the first half wasn't horrible and seemed pretty standard for YA, making it not a complete burden to get through.
Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, and Addiction
Moderate: Eating disorder
emilo's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
mar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, Drug abuse, Sexism, Addiction, Body shaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Transphobia, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Eating disorder
indigoreadingcollective's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No real spoiler as far as plot goes, as much as a spoiler to the way this book made me feel. Because holy shit will I never recover. People who say Song of Achilles is the saddest book they’ve read need to read this because I thought that was sad but oh my god.
This review is basically incomprehensible but neither am I and neither is the book at times because you’re crying to hard to read the words. Please read this book.
I may be scaring you away with this but it’s truly one of the most well written books I read, it was engaging and I was hooked all of the time. I had family things happening and while I couldn’t read it quickly I spent some time devoted to thinking about it every single day even if I couldn’t read. It takes up entirely too much brain space. Shout out M.L. Rio.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Murder, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
sunrise's review against another edition
Graphic: Racial slurs and Sexism
marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism
Minor: Blood and Vomit
_piercingwords_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story feels very real, on an emotional rather than logical level. The structure is a nice touch and fitting for the Shakespeare centered story. There's a lot to be analysed, a lot of foreshadowing and parallels to the plays alluded to in the book;
definitely a book you need to read in depth to really be able to appreciate the thought put into it, I will have to read it again, more thoroughly and with the knowledge of everything happening.
In the end, it is a love story, in a twisted, untraditional way.
It left me with a few questions unanswered but I couldn't put it down, the tension high until the last page and I do recommend it, especially to Shakespeare lovers.
Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Vomit, Outing, Bullying, Body shaming, Misogyny, Grief, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, and Addiction
snowydaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Drug use, Grief, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Murder, and Physical abuse
isleoflinds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Addiction, Body shaming, Classism, and Infidelity
G slur, pretentiousaastedorgli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Drug use, and Addiction
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Outing