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3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book starts out slow as can be, but hear me out: STICK WITH IT.
Yes, the start is slow. Yes, the shift in perspectives between Nicki and Maddie that happen mid-chapter with no clarification are extremely jarring (especially in audiobook form). Yes, there is a completely out of nowhere and pointless romance. HOWEVER.
Towards the middle of this book is when the story REALLY starts to pick up. The pace quickens, the characters become more interesting, it's easier to follow the flow of the perspective changes once you've adjusted to the style, and you will learn very quick the romance is kind of pointless on purpose (without spoiling what exactly I mean by that.) The portrait this book paints of Sebastian and his family is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and the plot twists (yes, several) are genuinely so clever and fun. This is a mystery about a family in wreckage, and maybe we can solve one or two of them.
The style also isn't ENTIRELY busted, the high action scenes are described incredibly vividly and feel so cinematic and exciting!!!
Overall, a bit of a slow start with a janky perspective structure, but a very heartfelt and intruiging mystery about a family in ruin.
Also, MASSIVE SPOILERS HERE, DO NOT READ THIS WITHOUT READING THE BOOK FIRST:This is one of the most heartfelt, warm, and meaningful representations I've ever seen of the Transgender experience in my life. I myself am Trans and didn't pick up on the possibility that the character in question was, too. I got the impression they were Queer but never considered it outside of sexuality. I'm so used to us just not being in books, I'm so used to the "the character is Transgender!" plot twist being used for shocking horror or even a joke. This was a breath of fresh air. Thank you, A.J. Finn.
Yes, the start is slow. Yes, the shift in perspectives between Nicki and Maddie that happen mid-chapter with no clarification are extremely jarring (especially in audiobook form). Yes, there is a completely out of nowhere and pointless romance. HOWEVER.
Towards the middle of this book is when the story REALLY starts to pick up. The pace quickens, the characters become more interesting, it's easier to follow the flow of the perspective changes once you've adjusted to the style, and you will learn very quick the romance is kind of pointless on purpose (without spoiling what exactly I mean by that.) The portrait this book paints of Sebastian and his family is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and the plot twists (yes, several) are genuinely so clever and fun. This is a mystery about a family in wreckage, and maybe we can solve one or two of them.
The style also isn't ENTIRELY busted, the high action scenes are described incredibly vividly and feel so cinematic and exciting!!!
Overall, a bit of a slow start with a janky perspective structure, but a very heartfelt and intruiging mystery about a family in ruin.
Also, MASSIVE SPOILERS HERE, DO NOT READ THIS WITHOUT READING THE BOOK FIRST:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Transphobia
"Fatphobia" is mostly internalized thoughts that a fat character has about herself. Nobody else in the cast mocks her for or even comments on her weight.
I’ll be honest, the story didn’t reel me in the way I was expecting it to. Very predictable plot, and overall just not that interesting unfortunately. Maybe I’ll give it another go at some point, but for now it’s on my DNF.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Made it about 60% of the way and it wasn’t picking up/ keeping my interest. DNF, this one just wasn’t for me.
The first bits were awful to get through. Once the main character Sebastian goes off to his dialysis appointment, the book gets way better. He's full of pretentious phases and confusion. Everyone else's contributions are more understandable and easier to read. Some quotes are actually laugh out loud worthy.
Far too many big words. I read the paperback and regretted not using my kindle to look up the meaning of so many words. I had google open as I read... I called major twist about a third of the way through. The End Of Story leaves a lot of loose ends and uncertainty.
The chapters are short, but there are 100 exactly. The font is condensed and tiny, by no means a quick read and I feel asleep often with the exception of the last quarter or so.
Two quotes did stick out:
"People your age- young people, I mean- you treat your lives like galleries, for public display, open to all. My life is no gallery. It's a vault, a black box, and- I'm sorry I can't put this more elegantly- it's nobody's damn business."
"Does the ending surprise me? If so, then I pronounce the preceding several hundred pages a success. If not, I've wasted time and money."
Far too many big words. I read the paperback and regretted not using my kindle to look up the meaning of so many words. I had google open as I read... I called major twist about a third of the way through. The End Of Story leaves a lot of loose ends and uncertainty.
The chapters are short, but there are 100 exactly. The font is condensed and tiny, by no means a quick read and I feel asleep often with the exception of the last quarter or so.
Two quotes did stick out:
"People your age- young people, I mean- you treat your lives like galleries, for public display, open to all. My life is no gallery. It's a vault, a black box, and- I'm sorry I can't put this more elegantly- it's nobody's damn business."
"Does the ending surprise me? If so, then I pronounce the preceding several hundred pages a success. If not, I've wasted time and money."
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol