2.21k reviews for:

A Separate Peace

John Knowles

3.46 AVERAGE

dark reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A story about human nature, innocence, war, and friendship. If you appreciated Dead Poets Society for the silly shenanigans of a gaggle of boys and the complex relationships and dark undertones (especially between Todd and Neil) you will like this book. Significantly less poetry, but has a lot to say about relationships and how certain times in life (and people) can shape you forever, for better or worse. 
adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was forced to read this in 8th grade. Hated it.
emotional reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
dark sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

the inherent homoeroticism of just being really gay 
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Every time I took this book out in public someone noticed and made the comment, "Oh, I've read that book!" This book seems to have been part of high school curriculum across the nation. I however, have not read it, though I made it more than halfway through. I didn't like the increasing sense of foreboding and I wasn't a fan of either of the main characters, so I put this down. Interestingly, aside from the person who lent me the book, no one who had read it followed their statement of recognition with some form of "that was a great book!" so I think I'm in good company.