Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Vermelho, Branco e Sangue Azul by Casey McQuiston

49 reviews

knockoffrainbow's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Grief, Homophobia, Alcohol, Outing, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Biphobia, Cancer, Classism, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness

Minor: Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

swiftpool's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

Super cute and an easy read. June adds so much more depth to the story compared to the movie. Her character also lends depth to Ellen and the different ways she treats each child. I even at one point predicted June would, as a journalist, out her brother due to being jealous of the love and attention he receives. Instead we got a living older sister self sacrificing parts of her own life to be there for him, from giving up her relationship to leaking photos of her and Henry to dispel rumors around Alex and Henry. Her flirtation with Nora and Percy was also super cute, funny, and ambiguous, letting Alex and Henry take the spotlight. Seeing Nora being feral in the background of scenes was cute. Even Leo adds a tumultuous family relationship to the story the movie doesn’t have. Liam, too, adds a lot to Alex’s story and self reflection. I was glad he came back into his life as a friend - and after seeing the movie, them biking to Alex’s house makes much more sense with Liam around. The only real cons I have were with Nora handled Alex coming out, and the scene where Alex barges into the palace. Honestly I didn’t love how Nora takes Alex coming out to her. Just because she’s queer and already guessed, doesn’t mean she should be so …. up front about it? Especially because even though we see her as logical and clinical, she is also said to be his best friend, and who he goes to for everything even above his sister. It felt like she was pushing him off, like, “yeah so what?”, despite coming to terms with sexuality being big and scary to Alex despite knowing he’d be accepted. As for the palace scene, it’s not that big of a gripe because it was very much written like a real fight - I just don’t happen to love Henry’s character in the moment. And they do, in the morning, clear up that he was an ass. But Henry lashing out at Alex despite being the one to fall first, kiss him first, and then ghost him multiple times and expect Alex to just accept that? Annoying. Definitely could use more communication skills. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Minor: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Cursing, Addiction, and Alcohol

eyescanbecruel's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Racism, Grief, Cancer, Homophobia, Death of parent, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Drug abuse

_shreyasharma's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Super cute book! Honestly was a bit skeptical going in, as I've been disappointed by booktok way too many times now, but this one is totally worth the hype. Lovable characters, nice plot and an extremely endearing relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Classism, Homophobia, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Biphobia, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, and Mental illness

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Outing

Moderate: Xenophobia, Abandonment, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief, Terminal illness, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Bullying

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Gun violence, Vomit, and War

pip10's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Cursing, Grief, and Outing

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Biphobia, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism

beccabookworm's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Cursing, and Outing

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Minor: Medical content, Stalking, Terminal illness, Cancer, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

lunahale's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

i absolutely love the balance of humor, romance, and angst in this book. and the bonus chapter was like a warm little hug

(btw, do we know who bea married? i have many questions.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

btg's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

I genuinely just want to turn around and read this book for the first time again. Alas, since we have yet to invent time travel, I'll say this -- McQuinstin created an incredibly heartwarming, relatable novel about coming to terms with your own queerness and what it means to build a legacy. I absolutely cherish Alex and Henry, who are realisticly portrayed as normal boys in difficult situations and so clearly make each other better. Their love story is adorable and sucks you in -- I legitimately could not put it down. If you like queer love stories mixed with a bit of political intrigue, do not skip this one.

Do note that this novel has even more sexual content than a typical romance novel -- if you're uncomfortable with reading sex scenes, you'll be skimming a couple of chapters. That being said, I want to applaud McQuinston on so easily integrating the emotional and physical relationship between Alex and Henry. It was very clear from the beginning that although the boys are VERY physically intimate, their emotional intimacy is given just as much importance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Racism, and Sexual assault

jana_f's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content

Minor: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, and Panic attacks/disorders