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lisbethleftwich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
lilywg's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
sedwards's review
2.75
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
sakisreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It is clear that the aftermath of abuse is horrific and hard to read about. I would not recommend this to anyone going on their own healing journey with abuse.
However, this book was written so beautifully. Even as Aphias (Fee) struggled through his life and the trials and tribulations of it, you could tell he had a certain vibrancy that kept him going.
I really grappled with this book, because with similar tones to My Dark Vanessa, it’s inconclusive ending felt as though it was cheating Fee out of something.
I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ✨ Thank you!
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, and Self harm
buttermellow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy and Racial slurs
cosmicpasta's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Suicide
milliebrierley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Terminal illness
drizzlybear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Racism
porchrailreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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When Edinburgh begins, we meet Fee, a young Korean-American boy growing up in Maine. He’s joins a boys choir where he meets Peter, his best friend and first love. Fee quickly draws the attention of the choir director, becoming amongst the first to be sexually abused by Big Eric. Fee is afraid to tell, even when it becomes clear Peter is next. Fee tries to forgive himself for his silence even after Big Eric’s arrest, but this becomes next to impossible when Peter takes his own life.
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Burdened still by the events of his past, Fee tries to move on. He builds a life for himself, finds friends, and starts teaching near his hometown. There he meets a student bearing an alarming resemblance to Peter. Their encounter reopens wounds, forcing Fee to face his past head on.
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If you’ve watched my stories over the last few days, you’ll know I had a very big reaction to this novel. It’s beautifully written, lyrical and melodic, metaphors expertly crafted to illicit strong images and reactions. Shortly after finishing the novel, I’d read that the author used his own past as the basis for this novel, it’s writing a means of catharsis. The inclusion of his experience makes Fee seem real. He is the most complex and complete character I’ve read in a while. Chee’s discourse on the residual effects of trauma, the enduring self-blame, the prolonged sense of loss is necessary.
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If I’d written this review last night, I would’ve said the only issue I had with the novel was the end. And while I’m still not thrilled with the ending, after sleeping on it I can better understand. Hurt people hurt people.
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I truly recommend this, but be advised the trigger warnings are real: trauma, sexual assault, pedophilia, self-harm, drug abuse, violence.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt