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shybookstagramer's review against another edition
4.0
I thought the addition of different format styles was great, besides the normal story, there was documentary transcripts, interview transcripts, articles, texting chat logs. It was a unique way to tell the story and I liked it.
content warning: mention of the death of a parent, cyberbullying/online harassment, homophobia, racism, sexual content, toxic relationship
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
elskabee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
One aspect I really liked was the emails between the PR and management and co. They gave an extra insight that we don't get from the main character and the way they talk in the emails is brutal because it's where our main character doesn't see. They way they talked about him as if he was a product was - I'm not sure how to put it - disgusting as hell. However, it felt realistic in a painful way and I think that element of management controlling everything the group says or does should have been even more intense to be even more realistic. The other inserts of social media posts and articles were very hit or miss for me, some added while others just felt unnecessary.
The main thing that boosted this book's rating for me was that the main character was very self-centred in a very believable and somewhat sympathetic way. Like he did have a lot of shit to deal with and that made him make some questionable decisions and impact his relationships with others. But also, he was so self-involved that he didn't stop to consider things from anyone else's point of view and that ultimately made things worse. A teenager dealing with that much bullshit I could totally believe would act that way and then thankfully learn from it! The only part that this didn't work for was the poorly handled stuff in the third act I mentioned in the spoilers above.
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism and Sexual content
there's a lot of slut-shaming including internalised stuff with the main character. The main character is harrassed by fans several times throughout the book, including non-consensual touching (e.g. being grabbed). Near the the end of the bookparasolcrafter's review against another edition
- 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
0.5
the characters are underdeveloped and some hinge solely on stereotypes, a couple are barely there (like why were owen and especially ian there so scarcely??? makes no sense!!!) despite the fact that the book focuses on a boy band who are all, seemingly, best friends, and overall none of them are all that likeable. hunter is a self-obsessed boy who seems to think the world revolves around the fact that hes a bottom (did the author think if he didnt mention the fact that hunter is a bottom in every chapter that we'd forget??? made me so mad. shut up about it.), kaivan is okay but has almost no personality, aidan is the stereotypical bitter ex, and ashton is just...there. nothing of note really happens in the book either...? like it doesnt break any ground. doesnt do anything new. doesnt really pose any questions about society. it was all so shallow
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Death of parent
achay91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
jailene's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Alcohol
infinitefandomstrash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
jeanniea'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
bookhoarderbea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Death of parent
davidbythebay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Our main POV throughout the narrative chapters is a gay boy in a boy band, Hunter. We do get emails, texts, interviews, and other things from various people showing other perspectives. The main focus, however, is Hunter. Hunter is dealing with being a celebrity at only 17 years old. His every move is to maintain a particular image. Things go off the rails, on the rails, and all around the rails.
This is more adult in its content. There is talk of sex and there is a lot of more adult themes of becoming a beacon of good in the world. A bit of mental health discussion. But nothing like in the Darius duology, which I loved and read both last year.
Of great note is the FANTASTIC use of the LGBTQ+ spectrum! There is a nonbinary drag performer and activist who sort of briefly mentors Hunter. There is a young gay country music star. The spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations are present here, even in passing characters in the bands meet and greets with fans. And that is what brings a huge smile to my face.
Romance is not a big focus here. The focus is living your life authentically by your rules, not the rules of others. Hunter talks about how his record label dresses him to appeal to the public for ticket sales by "meeting their expectations" of what a gay person dresses like. Then when the scandal hits, they rework him to be that particular subsect of the gay community's stereotypical posterchild. Heck! The band is making a documentary and the filmmaker actually asks Hunter yo act more gay, and especially more feminine gay. It's these harmful microaggressions and stereotypes that persist. It was wonderful seeing them called out.
I loved this book. My one drawback is this: I wanted more. I don't mean simply that I could have continued in this story. Yes, I could. What I really mean is there were a few things introduced that just scream for more time. The nonbinary drag performer and activist, Masha Patriarki, is one of them. The story of Kaivan (the Irani gay boy from the tour's opening band) is another. The ending left me with questions. I'll leave it at that. I think this would do well with a sequel or a companion short story collection. I want to know about Hunter and Kaivan! This is all in the description. I just want more. And I want more of the other boys.
This cast was diverse. The boy band Kiss & Tell is 5 Canadian friends, each with different backgrounds. And Khorram treats race with the same reverence as gender identity and sexual orientation.
Because I was left a little with a "that's it?" Feeling at the end - and I do mean a little feeling of that - I can only give this a 4.5 stars. It is a fantastic novel. Abid Khorram's a favorite author of mine, to be sure. Each of the three novels I've read have just been handled so wonderfully and written beautifully. I absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially if you are seeking some LGBTQ+ content that includes some representation beyond the white gay/lesbian representation books often see. I will read everything Abid Khorram writes.
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
internationalreads's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent