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alenert's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
This book has been on my shelf for at LEAST 10 years, and if I'm being honest, usually when I pick up a book I've had that long I feel like I could have just never read it and been fine. BUT, I really loved this book! I listened to the audiobook, and was immediately drawn into the story. I usually shy away from audiobooks that are longer than like... 8 hours (DEFINITELY over 12), and this was almost 16 hours long and I listened to it in 3 days. The characters were compelling, frustrating, empathetic... sometimes a bit aloof. I really enjoyed how all of their stories intertwined.
I do wish some of the relationships had been more developed—I wanted more about Henry and Owen's friendship for whatever reason (and more development of Owen general), and given that Henry and Mike are the crux of this story, I wish their conflicts had been a bit more fleshed out via actual dialogue between them, but I suppose that's not who they are... therapy for them both!
Also it made me lol how often Schwartz's changing widow's peak was mentioned. We love a random defining physical trait.
TW: depression, suicide, eating disorder, death of a parent, grief, administrator/student relationship (both are consenting adults), abuse of painkillers, psychiatric hospital
I do wish some of the relationships had been more developed—I wanted more about Henry and Owen's friendship for whatever reason (and more development of Owen general), and given that Henry and Mike are the crux of this story, I wish their conflicts had been a bit more fleshed out via actual dialogue between them, but I suppose that's not who they are... therapy for them both!
Also it made me lol how often Schwartz's changing widow's peak was mentioned. We love a random defining physical trait.
TW: depression, suicide, eating disorder, death of a parent, grief, administrator/student relationship (both are consenting adults), abuse of painkillers, psychiatric hospital
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief and Medical trauma
veronicats's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-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
5.0
My new favorite book! Blends the purity of baseball with the complication of young life to create something wholly real and heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Outing, and Violence
akeeslar's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I would have liked this book more if the focus stayed on Mike and Henry’s relationship. Everything else made it a slow read for me as it just wasn’t as interesting as the on field storyline.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
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