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snowydaze's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely loved it, it was very informative but also had strong character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Medical content, Outing, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
laurenleigh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Where We Go From Here by Lucas Rocha is about three young gay Brazilian men navigating life with HIV, either in their own diagnosis or that of a loved one. It treads a fine line between being educational and feeling forced, and for the most part, it walks this line well. I would hope that we all know the basics of HIV, but I found myself learning more about what it’s actually like to live with it in today’s world. The most interesting storyline in my opinion was between Henrique and Victor, the former being HIV-positive, the latter being negative. Victor is definitely attracted to Henrique, but has to navigate through some of his own fears and prejudices towards the virus. I enjoyed that the characters were both likable and flawed, but sometimes they fell a little flat. There were just some lines here and there that felt underdeveloped or implausible, though this could be a reflection of the translation more than the original text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
Moderate: Blood and Homophobia
hev139's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Hate crime, and Bullying
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- 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
This is such a well-written book with an in-depth look at what it might look like to be diagnosed HIV-positive. This is told from 3 alternating viewpoints of young gay men in Brazil--1 who has been positive for years, 1 who is dating someone HIV-positive, and 1 who is newly diagnosed.
I really liked the journeys all three went with and seeing these points of views. This book is extremely informative about HIV and the misconceptions surrounding it! I really enjoyed it.
I really liked the journeys all three went with and seeing these points of views. This book is extremely informative about HIV and the misconceptions surrounding it! I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Chronic illness
Moderate: Hate crime
mezzano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
A few months back, I attended a virtual book promotion where Alice Oseman, Leah Johnson, and Lucas Rocha discussed the importance of positive and happy queer narratives for teenagers and young adults. While I knew the premises behind both Oseman and Johnson's works, that experience had been the first time I was introduced to Rocha and his upcoming book. While Lucas Rocha talked about his inspiration for Where We Go From Here, I found it hard to picture a story about AIDS as one which could have a realistic and uplifting message. What I realize now, months after attending the virtual event, was that I was still holding onto internalized homophobia and prejudice against HIV. The book, Where We Go From Here is an incredibly sensitive and timely story about three individuals whose stories all converge at their experiences enduring and overcoming the stigma which surrounds HIV.
Through telling the story with the perspective of three main characters, Where We Go From Here holds a level of nuance which is unmatched by other popular books surrounding HIV. All three characters are allowed to express their feelings, fears, and prejudices in order to grow into more understanding people. By having a person who has been living with HIV, a person recently diagnosed, and a character recently confirmed as HIV negative, Rocha masterfully touches on the sensitive aspects of HIV which is still largely taboo. A turning point in the story is when one of the character's says that the true curse of the disease is how society views an HIV positive person. HIV has become a manageable chronic condition, but people still reject the individual and treat their illness as a personal falling. This is seen through the heartbreak of one of the main characters.
Where there is heartbreak, there is also a deep sense of community. The comradery and support the characters have from others is uplifting. As characters learn to live with their new diagnosis, other characters serve as a support system to affirm positive messages. Characters are reminded that HIV is no longer a death sentence, and that with proper medical treatment a normal life is possible. There are details I learned about HIV that I have never learned in sexual education classes, like the fact that you can catch multiple strains of HIV. The fact that options for healthy and safe sex with HIV is discussed, such as explaining what undetectable status means and what PreP does, is so important to see in young adult literature. Knowing that there are options to practice safe sex with or without HIV is something that everyone should have some understanding of.
The only aspect of the book I wish had been better executed was the fact that many of the characters had the same voice, which made following along to each of the three perspectives difficult as I read the story as an audiobook. Had the voices been more distinct, this would have easily been a five star read for me.
Through telling the story with the perspective of three main characters, Where We Go From Here holds a level of nuance which is unmatched by other popular books surrounding HIV. All three characters are allowed to express their feelings, fears, and prejudices in order to grow into more understanding people. By having a person who has been living with HIV, a person recently diagnosed, and a character recently confirmed as HIV negative, Rocha masterfully touches on the sensitive aspects of HIV which is still largely taboo. A turning point in the story is when one of the character's says that the true curse of the disease is how society views an HIV positive person. HIV has become a manageable chronic condition, but people still reject the individual and treat their illness as a personal falling. This is seen through the heartbreak of one of the main characters.
Where there is heartbreak, there is also a deep sense of community. The comradery and support the characters have from others is uplifting. As characters learn to live with their new diagnosis, other characters serve as a support system to affirm positive messages. Characters are reminded that HIV is no longer a death sentence, and that with proper medical treatment a normal life is possible. There are details I learned about HIV that I have never learned in sexual education classes, like the fact that you can catch multiple strains of HIV. The fact that options for healthy and safe sex with HIV is discussed, such as explaining what undetectable status means and what PreP does, is so important to see in young adult literature. Knowing that there are options to practice safe sex with or without HIV is something that everyone should have some understanding of.
The only aspect of the book I wish had been better executed was the fact that many of the characters had the same voice, which made following along to each of the three perspectives difficult as I read the story as an audiobook. Had the voices been more distinct, this would have easily been a five star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Blood
indrakir's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Hate crime
Moderate: Bullying
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