Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

24 reviews

jeleigh16's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to absolutely love this book. I enjoyed it, but there were things about it that kept me from giving this 5 stars. The main issue I found was the consent issue. There was more than one character forcing themselves on another character in the name of teenage lust. If the book didn't have that element or they'd more strongly communicated about that difficulty in their relationships, I would have had an easier time with it. The representation of various experiences of these teens during the late 80s/early 90s in NYC during the AIDS epidemic was well done though and the ending does bring the themes together nicely. It certainly showcased what it means to learn to be a part of this thing we call community.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Excrement, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Grief, Outing, Medical content, and Racism

Minor: Gun violence

kibbles15's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

I have thought a lot about how to explain why I did not like this book.  I think the main reason I did not like it is because I feel that it had so much potential and the author ruined the story with unlikable characters and way more sexual descriptions than seem appropriate for a book intended for teens.   I don't have any kids, but if I did, gay or straight, I would not want them to read this book.  It promotes underage drinking and sexual intercourse without any real references to the consequences of such actions.  I also don't like how the author persistantly implied that sexual intercourse equals love when in reality it is so much more.  Almost every relationship in the book (be it Judy and Raza or Art and Raza) was based solely on the physical attraction of each for the other. Judy and Art were honestly almost predatory in their relationships with Raza. To be honest, the only relationship I believed was that of the Uncle Stephen and his relationship with the people around him.  Stephen was the only character that seemed to have any depth.  His relationship with his friends, his passion to stand up for his beliefs despite his health, his love of old movies, and his efforts to teach his teenage protégés with love were the only thing I liked about this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Chronic illness, Grief, Homophobia, and Sexual content

antidietleah's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Hate crime and Vomit

I

kal517's review

emotional hopeful 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

Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Racism

Minor: Violence

brookey8888's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-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

Wow was this book moving. 

I cried multiple times and just felt for the characters. This story is so important to learn about what activist did for the queer community and how things have changed,but how much still needs to be done. I don’t know why I didn’t realize this might be sad  when it’s set during the AIDS epidemic. I really liked our characters(for the most part). I just like the growth and courage they all had. The family relationships in this were so sweet for the most part. Now Art was not that likable at times which is the point, but it was so hard to read his POV  sometimes(also he’s a teenager so it makes sense). I also didn’t really love the ending. It was bittersweet to me, but realistic. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Medical content, Death, Abandonment, Body shaming, Outing, Racism, Bullying, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, and Violence

greenlivingaudioworm's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Death, Excrement, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Vomit, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Terminal illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Medical content, Death, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content

ranjanireviewsreads's review

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Hate crime, Misogyny, Cursing, Medical content, Grief, Police brutality, and Death

mattyb's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Grief, Death, Hate crime, and Homophobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Medical trauma, Bullying, Islamophobia, Medical content, Outing, Police brutality, and Sexual content

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Vomit, and Violence

punchofwishes's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

I simply adored this book. As an enthusiast for queer history and especially 1980s queer history, this was a wonderful, heart-wrenching experience. I loved the characters, especially Uncle Stephen, and the plentiful references to real protests and events. The pop culture I was not as familiar with but the characters’ love made me not mind as much. While some parts were a little didactic I found it rather endearing. Also considering how many people are unfamiliar with queer history having (semi-)educational material that’s appealing is important. Great read and made me want to dive right back into some nonfiction books concerning the era. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Vomit, and Fatphobia