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charlouise's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What I thought was the perfect Red White and Royal Blue -esque gay romance to get me out of a reading slump turned out to actually be quite the reflective piece. With the trapped, overworked and controlled nature of the tour ending in a tragic accident eerily mirroring the way I spent my summer, the can’t form any opinions of their own romantic interest and the I’ll eventually split from my toxic family but it’s hard cause I still love them lead, this book hit a little too close to home for me to comfortably consider this light hearted.
The book starts off with some nice one liners perfectly defining my sense of humour. Humorous highlights included:“Or am I somehow a bad enough kisser to destroy an entire friendship?”; “They said their worth as a person wasn’t tied to their professional output.” “Weird.” “So weird.”; “Do you?” His voice is light and airy. A little too innocent. “Some of these are very phallic. Didn’t think you were into that.”; “I pretend to dry heave, because I’m pretty sure I legally have to whenever someone says something that cheesy”.
Though these quick tongue in cheek laughs, which grow ever more cliche are marred by a section which feels homophobic even if this was not the intention. After Zach comes out to his mother he is troubled by the sudden inklings of hostility she shows towards him and her comparing him keeping his recently explored sexuality from her, even if only briefly, to the lack of communication from Zachs father about his feelings at the end of their marriage which sadly resulted in divorce. When Zach confronts his mother about this the following exchange takes place and the pair fall instantly into place again.
“Oh, it’s just you’re being such a teenager right now. It’s adorable. Okay, back to our serious talk. All right. Mmhmm, yes, queer teen angst, go on.” I shake my head and laugh. For the first time in weeks, this feels right. “You’re the worst.”
Whilst the writes are likely attempting to use this exchange to price Zachs mum truly doesn’t care where he or anyone else falls on the sexuality and gender spectrum, the dismissal of such serious discussion leaves it falling a little flat. The conversation ends without an apology and the misgivings are all glossed over as imaginary with no continued conversation of how they made the protagonist feel.
Nestled between all this was some unexpected but not necessary reflections on my own life, leaving me feeling eerily like I’ve been live through a pre written romcom, though sadly not the fun kind.
The book starts off with some nice one liners perfectly defining my sense of humour. Humorous highlights included:
Though these quick tongue in cheek laughs, which grow ever more cliche are marred by a section which feels homophobic even if this was not the intention.
“Oh, it’s just you’re being such a teenager right now. It’s adorable. Okay, back to our serious talk. All right. Mmhmm, yes, queer teen angst, go on.” I shake my head and laugh. For the first time in weeks, this feels right. “You’re the worst.”
Whilst the writes are likely attempting to use this exchange to price Zachs mum truly doesn’t care where he or anyone else falls on the sexuality and gender spectrum, the dismissal of such serious discussion leaves it falling a little flat. The conversation ends without an apology and the misgivings are all glossed over as imaginary with no continued conversation of how they made the protagonist feel.
Nestled between all this was some unexpected but not necessary reflections on my own life, leaving me feeling eerily like I’ve been live through a pre written romcom, though sadly not the fun kind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia
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