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seventhswan's review
- 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
2.25
I did enjoy the varied cast of characters but I wish we would have got to spend more time with a few of them, rather than a small snapshot of several. So much more could have been done with, for example, Avery
Laskey is a talented writer and I'd give another of her books a go! It's a shame this story didn't work for me.
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Child death, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Racism
gellyreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Racism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Deadnaming, Bullying, Blood, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Grief, Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Medical content, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Death, and Cursing
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
4.0
The book is based on a collection of interconnected stories told from a series of points of views of the residents of Big Bur and the members of AAA. As each story unfolds it is clear to see that the AAA have a huge uphill battle on their hands as there is a large amount of deep rooted bigotry in parochial Big Bur. Slowly, one by one we are left into the minds and lives of those who call Big Bur home, both existing and new residents and we begin to see they all have a lot more in common than they would like to think.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the staunch Big Bur heads against the free thinking taskforce and found it showed a lot of the harmful stereotypes that exist. The book is full of a multitude of flippant comments such as "too pretty to be lesbians", "at least it's not two men" and "but you look like a nice girl" and I think they're thrown about deliberately to make the reader realise just how easily these type of comments are thrown about in everyday society.
The book isn't without flaws there's one particular chapter which is literally your stereotypical male fantasy of two lesbians detailed which seemed pretty gratuitous.
Books like these I think are a great starting point for conversations and to get different groups of people talking, especially those who are a little bit more reluctant to read books on the topic of the LGBTQ+ community.
I switched between the book and the audiobook and both worked perfectly. The audiobook is absolutely fantastic with a full cast for each of the characters and it really brings the flaws of some of the characters to life.
A really enjoyable look at small town views and how sometimes with work they can be changed for the better.
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, and Transphobia
Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, and Grief
thevietvegan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's sad to see a glimpse of how a lot of people feel about LGBTQIA+ people but I really enjoyed getting to know this small town and how people grew from the experience of having two years of exposure to people outside of their cis-het bubble. I wish I saw more into some of the characters lives (like Zach and Avery, instead of of just updates in passing from another character's perspective).
Overall, a really good and hopeful read. Lots of trauma, but healing, growth, and self-discovery.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Sexism, Misogyny, and Biphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity
booknerdnative's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Infidelity, Bullying, and Animal death
Moderate: Vomit, Sexism, Police brutality, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content