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xenvirtue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing, Homophobia, and Medical content
welllovedspines's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
TL;DR: A translated debut about the reality of living after a diagnosis of HIV. Told in three perspectives, this book does a lot to distigmatize this diagnosis and illustrate how beautiful life can be for those impacted. Educational and heart-warming.
_____
This was an audiobook read for me, and honestly I'm not sure if I would have initially gravitated to it without this free audiobook access. That is something I've been loving recently because it's exposed me to more excellent books than I could have dreamed of.
This book is told in 3 different perspectives: from someone recently diagnosed with HIV, someone that recently tested negative after potential exposure, and someone who has been living with HIV for years. The audiobook has three different readers, which really helped with the perspective changes too!
I learned a lot about HIV and it's treatment through this book. Although set in Brazil, I believe anyone can relate to the experience these men go through. There has always been a massive amount of stigma around HIV (and AIDS), and many view this diagnosis as a death sentence. This book showed this is not the case and that life can be beautiful, fulfilling, and worthwhile in spite of being HIV positive.
Another thing I appreciated about this book was the amount of truth the author conveys about HIV. It's clear he is passionate about the topic and wants to clear the air on the many myths that are out there. The book clearly demonstrates that there is still work to be done to destigmatize HIV, and still offering hope in this possibility.
While being both informative and touching, this book definitely leaves a lasting impression. I definitely recommend it!
_____
This was an audiobook read for me, and honestly I'm not sure if I would have initially gravitated to it without this free audiobook access. That is something I've been loving recently because it's exposed me to more excellent books than I could have dreamed of.
This book is told in 3 different perspectives: from someone recently diagnosed with HIV, someone that recently tested negative after potential exposure, and someone who has been living with HIV for years. The audiobook has three different readers, which really helped with the perspective changes too!
I learned a lot about HIV and it's treatment through this book. Although set in Brazil, I believe anyone can relate to the experience these men go through. There has always been a massive amount of stigma around HIV (and AIDS), and many view this diagnosis as a death sentence. This book showed this is not the case and that life can be beautiful, fulfilling, and worthwhile in spite of being HIV positive.
Another thing I appreciated about this book was the amount of truth the author conveys about HIV. It's clear he is passionate about the topic and wants to clear the air on the many myths that are out there. The book clearly demonstrates that there is still work to be done to destigmatize HIV, and still offering hope in this possibility.
While being both informative and touching, this book definitely leaves a lasting impression. I definitely recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Minor: Suicide
helenmcd's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Outing
yadira315's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
- 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
I usually only like to dual POV for romance novels, but I really appreciated it in the story as we get to see each character’s perspective for their individual journey and transition as they grow. What a heartbreaking yet fulfilling story. I love each of the characters and was rooting for them. This is such an important read, as I learned so much about HIV. This book also provides a voice for so many that are stigmatized. I highly recommend everyone check this book out !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Homophobia, and Outing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.25
I loved this one! I don’t read a lot of YA, but this one is definitely on the upper age range of YA and the characters are great! Plus it tackles a super important topic - living with HIV in Brazil. We follow three characters, Henrique, Ian and Victor, all at differing stages in life. Henrique has been living with HIV for three years, Ian has just been diagnosed, and Victor has just been tested but received negative results. Their lives all intertwine, and I just loved the found family aspect of this book.
They are young, so they do make mistakes and say stupid things but that just makes the development even better! Where We Go From Here does a great job of balancing the idea that there is still a lot of intolerance and prejudice surrounding HIV positive people with a more hopeful tone. The boys mostly all have excellent support systems, through their friends even if their family are not supportive. Despite the subject matter, it’s got humour and heart while not making light of the seriousness.
It’s not an ownvoices novel, but the author did lots of research and includes so many resources in the author note. I obviously can’t attest to the veracity (not being a gay man, HIV positive, or Brazilian), but I definitely loved it.
They are young, so they do make mistakes and say stupid things but that just makes the development even better! Where We Go From Here does a great job of balancing the idea that there is still a lot of intolerance and prejudice surrounding HIV positive people with a more hopeful tone. The boys mostly all have excellent support systems, through their friends even if their family are not supportive. Despite the subject matter, it’s got humour and heart while not making light of the seriousness.
It’s not an ownvoices novel, but the author did lots of research and includes so many resources in the author note. I obviously can’t attest to the veracity (not being a gay man, HIV positive, or Brazilian), but I definitely loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing, Medical content, and Homophobia
Outing - a character’s HIV status is revealed publicly without his consentzlad13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Outing
Moderate: Medical content
sammirosewater's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Outing, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma
zluke's review
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.5
It was cute and fairly upbeat but unfortunately it feels a bit clunky at times. Possibly because it's been translated.
Regardless it was an interesting read and I learned a little more about what's its like to live with HIV in Brazil. Highlights really well that there's still a lot of stigma and shame as well as misinformation surrounding HIV that we need to challenge.
Regardless it was an interesting read and I learned a little more about what's its like to live with HIV in Brazil. Highlights really well that there's still a lot of stigma and shame as well as misinformation surrounding HIV that we need to challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
3.5
This was good! A fast-paced coming-of-age story with three unique and compelling perspectives.
I learned a lot about the modern diagnosis and treatment process of HIV/AIDS as well as the Brazilian cultural significance of queerness and HIV/AIDS.
This was an audiobook read for me and I enjoyed all the narrators and it helped me differentiate the different povs which can otherwise be a challenge in audio form.
I recommend this to fans of queer YA coming-of-age novels like Ziggy Stardust and Me and This is Kind of an Awkward Love Story.
I learned a lot about the modern diagnosis and treatment process of HIV/AIDS as well as the Brazilian cultural significance of queerness and HIV/AIDS.
This was an audiobook read for me and I enjoyed all the narrators and it helped me differentiate the different povs which can otherwise be a challenge in audio form.
I recommend this to fans of queer YA coming-of-age novels like Ziggy Stardust and Me and This is Kind of an Awkward Love Story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Drug use, Violence, and Blood
HIV/AIDS stigma, medical treatment and side effects of treatment/lack of treatment for HIV/AIDS.ramreadsagain's review
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I picked this up on impulse and wish I had read more about it first, I didn’t realise it was a young adult book. I’ve definitely outgrown the genre and it’s just not for me.
Outside of that though this is a good book. It covers an important topic that I wish I had known more about when I was younger, and it even taught me a couple of things today. It’s also a really nice story, covering three different perspectives.
I wish there was more development of their friendship. A lot of the narration was devoted to irrelevant descriptions and the pacing was a bit off at times. Furthermore the Henrique/Victor romance felt “rushed” just because most of it happened before the book started so we don’t really see them interact much which lead me to not be invested in the romance. It has a bit of a “tell not show” issue as well and I felt that the moral of the story was a bit heavyhanded but I understand that these are often standard characteristics of young adult books.
I’d recommend it for fans of YA.
Outside of that though this is a good book. It covers an important topic that I wish I had known more about when I was younger, and it even taught me a couple of things today. It’s also a really nice story, covering three different perspectives.
I wish there was more development of their friendship. A lot of the narration was devoted to irrelevant descriptions and the pacing was a bit off at times. Furthermore the Henrique/Victor romance felt “rushed” just because most of it happened before the book started so we don’t really see them interact much which lead me to not be invested in the romance. It has a bit of a “tell not show” issue as well and I felt that the moral of the story was a bit heavyhanded but I understand that these are often standard characteristics of young adult books.
I’d recommend it for fans of YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Outing and Alcohol