Scan barcode
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Biphobia, Animal death, Classism, Fatphobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Confinement, Alcohol, Suicide, Ableism, Deportation, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Simon, Baz, Agatha, Penelope, and Miles are back from America, but as usual, things aren’t exactly going smoothly. Miles is still under a curse that Penelope is determined to break, Simon and Baz (but mostly Simon) are still having problems communicating about their feelings for each other, and now there are people claiming to be the true Chosen One.
I’ll be honest, couldn’t tell you exactly what the plot of this book was. The focus was very much on the characters’ interpersonal relationships, especially Simon and Baz’s, and how they worked through their trauma and past miscommunications together. That is not a criticism at all; I absolutely loved it. Rowell has a way of writing certain scenes and feelings that hit me like a punch to the stomach because it feels like someone has reached into my brain and written down thoughts I couldn’t have even put into words. That’s how I felt reading a lot of the Simon-and-Baz scenes, but also some of the interactions between Agatha and Niamh. It made so much sense to me that Agatha realized she might like women. She was so closed off in the other books, even to Simon, her supposed great love. I loved seeing her find her path within the magical world and realize that she can fit in, even though it’s not in the way she always thought. I also love that she took over the lesbian goatherd position at Watford! ;)
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Happy! Rowell wrapped everything up pretty nicely...and I almost wish she hadn’t, so we could have another book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Gaslighting
More...