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taryn_ph's review against another edition
3.0
While I loved the information about book bindery as a profession and the focus on queer legacies, stories, and bodies, I frankly hated Dawn and found it difficult to feel for her because of how much an energy vampire she was. I listened to this one on audiobook, and think that might have amplified the annoyance I felt at times about her neediness and demanding on the people around her, especially Jae.
scromero's review against another edition
2.0
This was disappointing as it had the makings of a really interesting novel! I wish the author spent more time fleshing out some of these relationships as most of the time I didn’t understand how/why they had the dynamics they did. Some of the pacing felt off and the ending felt like it was tied too nicely together.
paigebach's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
shellzza's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spinstah's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not really sure what to say about this one. I didn’t like the main character, but they were very believable, and really is it fair to judge a character by their internal struggles and spiraling?
egilmore's review against another edition
3.0
Sadly I didn’t really click with this one. The exploration of gender was excellent, especially re: Dawn and Lucas’ relationship. There were strong moments, but a lot of the dialogue and politics felt too simplistic, and I just couldn’t connect with the main character as much as I wanted to. Satisfying conclusion though.
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about Dawn, a bookbinder living in NYC in the years following 9/11. Dawn is unsure of their gender identity and sometimes dressing in men’s clothes while other times wearing dresses. Their boyfriend would prefer them to be a man and their boss seems to prefer her female side. (I’m not sure of Dawn’s pronouns but the author uses she/they). Dawn discovers a letter hidden in a book which seems to indicate a long ago sapphic love story and she sets out to find the person who wrote the letter. The history discovered via the letter is both queer and Jewish (post World War II) and Dawn begins to try to understand themself through the letter writer as well as through street art in the city and her own art as well. Meanwhile, her best friend is hurt in a hate crime that Dawn blames themself for. There is a lot happening in this character driven book!
sapphotoni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
vasilas's review against another edition
3.75
I found the protagonist deeply annoying, especially the parts that I personally related to. Aimless, searching for meaning outside oneself, angsty, cowardly, reactionary, honestly an asshole. The art plotline especially was infuriating. Sad jerking off motion. The whole thing made me squirm and I think that was on purpose. Well done, really gave me a push to not be Like That myself. The ultimate moral of the story (put your whole pussy into whatever you do, don’t be such an insecure wet rag) was rather inspiring. The novel did not read like it was set in 2003 at all and the wave the different plot lines wove together was rather on the nose.