Reviews

Stay and Fight by Madeline ffitch

vinjii's review against another edition

2.5

I don't know what went wrong. I'm not usually someone who dislikes a book just because the characters are unlikeable, but I had a visceral reaction towards each one of these people. And by visceral I mean that I was wondering if they'd cease existing once I'd ripped up the book. (Don't worry, books are sacred, I wouldn't do that.)

The writing is interesting, some of the themes and concepts kept me engaged, but overall everyone is constantly making the worst possible decisions, they don't grow, they don't learn anything, and for once, I just don't understand the positive reviews. 

thisroundsonme's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

Interesting book with even more interesting characters. Best quote of the book is the poor never think their poor. It’s always someone else. 

abbyhays's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

not_theonlyme's review

4.0

Infuriating characters but more compelling for it

lastpaige111's review

4.0

Poetic, thought-provoking, and refreshingly odd.

tracy_j's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

An easy enough read, but I just couldn't fall in love with the characters and it kept me from rating it higher. There was good development but overall it just felt like something was missing.

jessica_stoots's review

5.0

I’m going to be honest, I read this because I’ve always been fascinated by living off-grid, and I was expecting this story to be purely about survival in the wilderness, not about raising a child. I was wrong with this expectation, though I’m glad that I was. It was about survival, but more about saving a family than saving oneself. The POVs felt very distinctive. I could always tell who was narrating simply by the diction alone. Perley’s sections were my favorite, the part where he goes to school listening to Rihanna was well placed, oddly enough. The ending was heartbreaking and hopeful—the best combination.

timna_wyckoff's review against another edition

5.0

Compassionate, tragic, hilarious, raw story shared by a fantastic audiobook narrator. The characters were so flawed and so sympathetic. The turning point in the middle of the book struck me because I suddenly realized that the author had gotten me into the characters' heads to the point that I was as surprised as they were. And Perley.....that 'steadfast and resolute' kid will stick with me for a while.

elizbiz's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Sexism, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Alcohol

eabbott02's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75