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jfield351's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.75
This was truly a wonderful, lovely, heartwarming book and I did shed a few tears at the end! I read it from the 23rd-26th of Feb and was instantly amazed and relieved that the author - TJ Klune - can write. As in, can write wonderfully. This book is going in my dymocks challenge checklist for ‘book with 5+ words in the title’. The title was perfect and somehow summed up the whole book very well. I was reading the book right up until I had to leave home and I had about 10 pages left, and when i got home i immediately finished it because I had to know what happened. I absolutely loved all the main characters, they were written so well with so much depth and I rooted for them a lot. It was just so well written, I felt what Linus felt. It’s one of the only books I’ve ever read where I didn’t care that the ending was predictable. I was also gripped when tense moments came about such as arthur taking linus down to the cellar, linus fighting with Upper management and linus returning to the island . The twist that arthur was a phoenix that had abused in this orphanage was sad and interesting but wasn’t as shocking as some other twists i’ve read. Obviously loved the epilogue that was super cute. None of the book was cheesy at all, it was genuinely so wonderful. This book was all over booktok and so it was really hyped up for me and it was well worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing, Death, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Confinement
elbe1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
ashmknow's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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: Racism
Minor: Child abuse
artemis_rose_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Read this if:
You are looking for something heartwarming about found family, celebrating bodily differences, with a gay romance between middle age men. It also shows that a mediocre person with privilege has the power and a responsibility to stand up for those harmed by institutions and racism.
You are looking for something heartwarming about found family, celebrating bodily differences, with a gay romance between middle age men. It also shows that a mediocre person with privilege has the power and a responsibility to stand up for those harmed by institutions and racism.
Don’t read this if:
You are looking for a story that completely and satisfactorily addresses the many ways that the Sixties Scoop harmed indigenous peoples, look elsewhere. It does put the responsibilities of fixing the problems onto the privileged, however they are made into a hero because their efforts are sadly rare.
You are looking for a story that completely and satisfactorily addresses the many ways that the Sixties Scoop harmed indigenous peoples, look elsewhere. It does put the responsibilities of fixing the problems onto the privileged, however they are made into a hero because their efforts are sadly rare.
With that it mind:
If you can understand that this book is unsatisfactory when it comes to properly addressing the many horrors of stealing and institutionalizing peoples because the people in power have decided that their birth families cannot care properly for their children. However it does a fairly decent job in showing the long term emotional and mental damage that this clauses in the children, but also the adults who have also had to live through this situation.
Does it solve everything and puts all the appropriate blame on the system and then fixes the problem? Nope, not even close. This is basically a love letter to the average person who does what is in their personal power to improve and protect the happiness of those who have been hurt by government and biases against the “other”.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
There is a lot of mentioning of potential triggers as it talks a lot about the traumas of foster care and a system purposely controlling underprivileged bodies and their rights. The current environment is safe, however all the children are battling the trauma from previous placements and this home is still under the control of the system. There is current bully and hate from the locals. Children also acting menacing/threatening death as a response to their previous traumas.bailey_sawka's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
oliverreeds's review
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
if i could rate this book higher than a five, i would do it. everything about this is incredible. i am crying from happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, and Religious bigotry
spookily's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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: Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Abandonment, and Confinement
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Violence
rose_88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I completely feel in love with this book. I adore the characters and the setting, and I loved the whole idea of fantasy and magic in an otherwise normal world. I loved that the whole sentiment of the story was about equality no matter who or what you are, but also that you don’t have to be content with a boring life simply because it’s ‘normal’. Something so really loved was how each of Linus’ relationships with the people on the island changed. Sal went from being terrified of him to being someone he looks up to, Chauncey went from someone who was though to be a ‘monster’ to a bellhop after Linus tells him he can do anything. Phee was so kind to him and even made him a little flower! And Theodore taking all of his buttons then showing him is hoard! And the two scenes of him first coming to the island and then returning, of him and Talia in the garden and her threatening ti kill him, but lovingly! And him and Lucy bonding over music! And him being so amazing after people were cruel to him and his nightmare! Linus and Zoe and mlm and wlw solidarity, I love them. Honestly, Linus and Arthur and the goddamn DEFINITION of true love. I love all the little moments between them, Linus thinking about his laugh and his smile, Arthur saying he loves that Linus is ‘just him’ and their kiss was just *chef’s kiss*. I also really loved how T.J Klune peppered in things about the phoenix before Arthur revealed it was him, like how he knew one and all. I also loved how Linus reacted to him, he was just so in love!! Them two are jus t the perfect dad’s and I love them all so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
secretsparrow's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
It's become one of my all-time favorites! Cozy, queer romance that also deals with recognizing and overcoming personal and systemic prejudices. All the characters are incredibly dynamic and the writing is often very clever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Child abuse
Racism in the form of prejudices against magical peoplesmarisacarpico's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.25
Charming, but just on this side of cloying. A disservice to not classify this as YA, frankly. Had it been, I might be a bit more forgiving of some of the overemphasis in the writing or the way the stakes never feel quite as heavy as they should or that everything ends so neatly. As is, this feels a bit unsophisticated. The ideas are heavy-handed and the hopefulness feels naive. That said, I’m sure a lot of readers will appreciate that sentiment and I suppose I can’t necessarily fault this for engaging in wish fulfillment. It’s a good book, but one I wish I’d liked more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Racism