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cup_of_rosie's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Death
brookey8888's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first one, but it was still really good. I really liked Kahi as a main character and his relationship with his brother. I did think him and Esme were cute. This also isn’t as steamy as the first one. I do appreciate learning about different cultures and customs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Classism, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Car accident
justinareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident
carolinareadz's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
i loved their relationship so much, the way they understood each other, were there for the other
i didn’t like a thing that khai’s mom said to quan about him needing to leave nyc to be there for his brother for not ending up as shitty as his father. like wtf?! that’s not something you say, not to anyone but especially to your son. he has this pressure on him, to be there for his brother and to help and understand and do everything his father couldn’t do. i feel like that’s messing him up, i’m excited to see his journey and thoughts on the next book.
stella and michael’s wedding omg tears, michael nervous and the fact that the wedding was without everybody’s shoes CRYING
andy’s storyline was so sad, when khai revealed that andy died when he was on his way to him and then the fact that khai never invited someone to hang out with him at his house was so heartbreaking.
i would’ve liked to see more of his journey on trying to accept this obvious change and the eventual conversations with esme about it. also the evolution of their relationship.
i didn’t like a thing that khai’s mom said to quan about him needing to leave nyc to be there for his brother for not ending up as shitty as his father. like wtf?! that’s not something you say, not to anyone but especially to your son. he has this pressure on him, to be there for his brother and to help and understand and do everything his father couldn’t do. i feel like that’s messing him up, i’m excited to see his journey and thoughts on the next book.
stella and michael’s wedding omg tears, michael nervous and the fact that the wedding was without everybody’s shoes CRYING
andy’s storyline was so sad, when khai revealed that andy died when he was on his way to him and then the fact that khai never invited someone to hang out with him at his house was so heartbreaking.
i would’ve liked to see more of his journey on trying to accept this obvious change and the eventual conversations with esme about it. also the evolution of their relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
araceli1022's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
criticalbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death, Grief, and Medical content
siob___'s review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief and Death
kansxlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death
cariam's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
This book gave me all the feelings. There was so much second-hand embarrassment at the first half, and so many goosebumps in the second.
It deals with issues like racism, a spectrum of autism and Asperger’s syndrome, self-confidence and westernized thinking. You may not imagine any of these things when you first lift up this book - but it makes it so much more worth it to actually read.
After reading Helen’s reasons for making My/Esme the heroine of her story, it makes me love the character infinitely more than I ever thought I could love a character. She’s smart, vulnerable but strong, and most of all brave.
This story made me queasy and question all my favourite attributes of my favourite characters in the past - but that made my enjoyment so much more real. The progression of Khai’s and Esme’s relationship and character growth within themselves was so raw and true for their POV’s that it’s hard to think only one person was writing this story. 10/10 would definitely recommend!
It deals with issues like racism, a spectrum of autism and Asperger’s syndrome, self-confidence and westernized thinking. You may not imagine any of these things when you first lift up this book - but it makes it so much more worth it to actually read.
After reading Helen’s reasons for making My/Esme the heroine of her story, it makes me love the character infinitely more than I ever thought I could love a character. She’s smart, vulnerable but strong, and most of all brave.
This story made me queasy and question all my favourite attributes of my favourite characters in the past - but that made my enjoyment so much more real. The progression of Khai’s and Esme’s relationship and character growth within themselves was so raw and true for their POV’s that it’s hard to think only one person was writing this story. 10/10 would definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Racism