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rinku's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Classism, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, Child death, and Abandonment
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Homophobia
lcl_reads's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
It starts off a little slow, but the alternating perspective keeps the build up interesting. What u love most about this book is how the climax is a sudden crescendo and fall. The climax and falling action are all packed into the last few pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
ela_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
monjure's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
antonique_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Murder and Death
iuvmoonie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Death
louise010's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Death
leastsquares's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Police brutality
celevstial's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
bookishandlegal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Wooooowwwww...how I have never read this book?!?!?! This book was SO good and everyone should read it. I'm not a huge romance lover, but gosh this was just so sweet and adorable and I absolutely loved it! The themes of young love and interracial relationships, and being a Black man in America, and family dynamics, and so much more were so well done and so easily integrated into a short book. When I saw the length of the audio I never thought the book would get as deep or as into the characters as it did, but this book was complex and the themes and lessons that came through were deep and profound and just so impactful.
The author has said that this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I knew that and saw a lot of nods to that throughout the book. Even knowing this going in, the ending absolutely gutted me and I did not see it coming until it was on top of me. The way grief was summed up and displayed in about 10 minutes at the end of this book was phenomenal. If you've also somehow missed this book for the past 22 years like I had, please go read it asap!!
The author has said that this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I knew that and saw a lot of nods to that throughout the book. Even knowing this going in, the ending absolutely gutted me and I did not see it coming until it was on top of me. The way grief was summed up and displayed in about 10 minutes at the end of this book was phenomenal. If you've also somehow missed this book for the past 22 years like I had, please go read it asap!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Violence