You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
This, to me, should definitely not be classified as YA. I was shocked to see it is. New Adult, yes, but YA, nay nay. Anyway, I kept flip-flopping between whether I related more to Jayne or June in my sibling dynamic and eventually settled on both. I need to call my sister.
Minus points because the slang is already dated (“my dude” gave me full-body tremors).
Minus points because the slang is already dated (“my dude” gave me full-body tremors).
God everyone was insufferable! I picked this up bc it was on the staff selections at Strand, and it was toted as “great representation of NYC” and “complex Asian third culture sister relationships” with a little spice of cancer. All things I conceivably like, except I absolutely hated June and Jayne. Words that come to mind - entitled, self hating, immature, insecure. And it’s just no fun to spend 13 hrs (even on 1.5 speed) with them. I get that these characters are barely adults, but it was truly shocking to watch some of their logical jumps that are so informed by their insecurity and not reality. It made me want to pull my eyes out. I’m so glad I’m not 20 anymore.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
You have to love reading about an unlikeable character who fully knows they’re unlikeable, and messy. Very messy. Otherwise, this book could feel like a dragging experience.
What kept me coming back were the raw, unflinching descriptions of places, experiences, and the horrible thoughts people can have. The heavy topics of both physical and mental health are neither glossed over nor romanticized, which I deeply appreciated.
Instead, the ugly and extremely difficult aspects of life are used to reveal the humanity of the characters. And yet, the book doesn’t wrap things up neatly or turn them into perfect people by the end.
What kept me coming back were the raw, unflinching descriptions of places, experiences, and the horrible thoughts people can have. The heavy topics of both physical and mental health are neither glossed over nor romanticized, which I deeply appreciated.
Instead, the ugly and extremely difficult aspects of life are used to reveal the humanity of the characters. And yet, the book doesn’t wrap things up neatly or turn them into perfect people by the end.
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kinda shook that this is a YA book. As a younger sister with the greatest older sister in the entire world, the hostility between Jayne and June hurt and I was really rooting for them the entire time. There is a lot in this book that really captures the Asian-American experience as well as the imperfection of life in general.
Also I will gladly take a Patrick
Also I will gladly take a Patrick
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes