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caidyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
What an excellent retelling! Black and queer folk in Victorian England. I greatly enjoyed reading this one and Bayron is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I loved how she took the story and made it her own while continuing to stay close to the source material.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
eni_iilorak's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Blood, Classism, Death, Grief, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Slavery
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
I love this book so much I want to CRY. Gabriel and Henry are precious and must be protected at all costs.
Bayron really outdid herself here with this retelling of Jekyll and Hyde. She expertly picked out that theme of Otherness that Robert Louis Stevenson explored and made it shine through our two favorite Black British Queer characters trying to exist and be seen as people in Victorian London.
I need more Historical Fiction that showcases the stories of people and cultures who have been erased by colonialism and history books. I cannot get enough of it.
Bayron really outdid herself here with this retelling of Jekyll and Hyde. She expertly picked out that theme of Otherness that Robert Louis Stevenson explored and made it shine through our two favorite Black British Queer characters trying to exist and be seen as people in Victorian London.
I need more Historical Fiction that showcases the stories of people and cultures who have been erased by colonialism and history books. I cannot get enough of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Sexual assault
jessicaludden's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.5
“Are we not all monstrous in some way?”
“Some of us are, but it is because we have been made monstrous by the world.”
My Dear Henry is a Jekyll and Hyde remix that follows Gabriel and Henry, two black queer boys living in 19th century London. It’s a mystery and a love story that highlights the homophobia and racism of the time period, while delivering a suspenseful plot and characters to empathize with.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked its commentary on homophobia and racism during this time. The author did an amazing job putting the reader into the characters’ shoes and emphasizing an experience that is often overlooked and erased in history. This book was eerie and tense and unsettled me even though I was familiar with the story it’s based on. Overall, this kept me on my toes and I like the twist the author put on this story.
“Some of us are, but it is because we have been made monstrous by the world.”
My Dear Henry is a Jekyll and Hyde remix that follows Gabriel and Henry, two black queer boys living in 19th century London. It’s a mystery and a love story that highlights the homophobia and racism of the time period, while delivering a suspenseful plot and characters to empathize with.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked its commentary on homophobia and racism during this time. The author did an amazing job putting the reader into the characters’ shoes and emphasizing an experience that is often overlooked and erased in history. This book was eerie and tense and unsettled me even though I was familiar with the story it’s based on. Overall, this kept me on my toes and I like the twist the author put on this story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Hate crime, Death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Murder, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Racism
annagwritesandreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the advanced listener copy. For me, I would instantly recommend the physical copy of this book and not the audiobook. I did not feel like the audiobook narrator changed voices enough, I found myself confused over who was talking, and that took away from the experience. If you are considering reading this, I would not recommend the audiobook.
HOWEVER, I would recommend this story overall. Kalynn was masterful in her retelling and that kept me listening to the story. This is a retelling of the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but as a queer, bipoc romance (at least, that is what I got out of it.)
We follow Gabriel Utterson, who in this story is a boy we follow from ages 15-17 as he studies in London, first in medicine then in law. Gabriel becomes enamored with Henry Jekyll, a boy he meets in school and in his boarding house. However, after an incident in the medical school that causes Gabriel to switch to law, Henry disappears and strange occurrences begin to happen, including a person named Hyde appearing to come and go from the Jekyll house as he pleases.
I loved the ending, but this was pretty slow paced in the middle. I would give the audiobook a 3/5 stars, but would recommend the physical copy of this book.
HOWEVER, I would recommend this story overall. Kalynn was masterful in her retelling and that kept me listening to the story. This is a retelling of the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but as a queer, bipoc romance (at least, that is what I got out of it.)
We follow Gabriel Utterson, who in this story is a boy we follow from ages 15-17 as he studies in London, first in medicine then in law. Gabriel becomes enamored with Henry Jekyll, a boy he meets in school and in his boarding house. However, after an incident in the medical school that causes Gabriel to switch to law, Henry disappears and strange occurrences begin to happen, including a person named Hyde appearing to come and go from the Jekyll house as he pleases.
I loved the ending, but this was pretty slow paced in the middle. I would give the audiobook a 3/5 stars, but would recommend the physical copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Murder
ghostreadin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Blood, and Homophobia
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, and Sexual harassment
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