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jessiebertram's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Torture, Violence, Transphobia, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Racism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
thebi_brarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The plot was fairly cliche and very predictable.
I did, however, enjoy it well enough. It would have scored higher but for the writing quality.
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Sexism
ldruckreier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Murder, Racism, Transphobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Tough read but captivatingyowlot's review against another edition
Graphic: Homophobia and Addiction
chaosdemonmonster's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Gore, Racism, Murder, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Cursing, Chronic illness, Excrement, Addiction, Infidelity, and Vomit
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
“Tears ran from his eyes and stung his cheeks. Tears for his son. Tears for his wife. Tears for the little girl they had to raise. Tears for who they were and what they all had lost. Each drop felt like it was slicing his face open like a razorblade.”
TRIGGER WARNINGS: racism, prejudice, hate crimes, murder, rape, transphobia, homophobia, grief, kidnapping, deadnaming, violence
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is not just violent but extremely emotional. Isiah was Black. Derek was white. And they loved each other. They loved the life that they built with their little girl. Ike and Buddy both shared prejudices against their sons. They loved them (what they thought was love) but could not accept them. But we all know that you can’t truly love someone unless you can accept and celebrate their true selves. Throughout the book, Ike and Buddy have to face their prejudices head-on and deal with the guilt that they could not reconcile. Buddy has his own prejudices as well and even though he and Ike form a bond, Ike still challenges him to examine his racist tendencies.
This book really challenges the reader. After hearing some of the words that were said to Isiah and Derek by their fathers…it is hard to feel for them. It just goes to show the complexities of toxic masculinity. But as Ike and Buddy form an awkward friendship, I was ready for them to burn the city to the ground so they could get justice for their sons. That doesn’t excuse their behaviors but it does show that they know how they acted is wrong and that they need to live with the words and actions they inflicted on their children.
This is a fast-paced and violent read. I will never get the images of a body in a wood-chipper out of my mind. But I could not put it down. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White is phenomenal. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, and Transphobia
raynaaskiverr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
alistinexo's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Car accident, Hate crime, and Kidnapping
kirbycm1's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
Graphic: Child death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
karachapp's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia