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marinapaso11'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, Transphobia, Violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Cancer, Car accident, Kidnapping, and Murder
katrinarose's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Murder, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Transphobia, Car accident, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Deadnaming, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, and Outing
anastasia_raf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also think that people give Buddy Lee too much gredit when he rarely stops himself from being an asshole.
Ike, I think you need to start appreciating your wife more.
There was one of many sentences that rubbed me the wrong way... But this one? Not a fan. ''Buddy Lee leaned against the sink. His chest was as tight as virgin pussy." Huh.
I want to believe that this book is supposed to be a punch in toxic masculinity's throat since all this happened because Cis-het (especially white,) man are insecure in their own sexuality and very existence,
BUT, I felt like queer people were just there to serve the plot. I felt their presence was "over-exploited." I get how and why they were important to the plot but they were also used as an excuse for "character growth." This book goes out of its way to show how these fathers were educated on these topics by their gay sons and queer people in general and yet does nothing to educate its audience and to lift up queer voices. Another perspective on the plot is that these two homophobic fathers used revenge as a way of absolving themselves of the guilt (about the awful treatment towards their sons and their ignorant ass towards queerness.) And yet, was it intentional? Or just...there? I think that's where the book lacked in a way. It's not clear on where it stands.
"Still, some of Cosby's other choices render this novel something short of a triumph. Queer people are central to the investigation and the story, but not a one has a particularly strong, fully realized voice of their own..." "Cosby also has straight people talking about LGBTQIA+ marginalization in conversations that sometimes sound preachy rather than organic. It's a jarring juxtaposition — having straight characters gain this growing awareness of and sensitivity to discrimination when the queer characters are marginalized in the narrative." By Carole V. Bell, a cultural critic and communication scholar focusing on media, politics and identity.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Medical content, Physical abuse, Death, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Car accident, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
bookworm247's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Blood
amieleigh8919's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Death, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
sarahmcg'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
This book took me by surprise, it was not what I expected (in a positive way!). I will forewarn you that it had a lot of graphic violence in it which shocked me at times but I think it was necessary to the storyline. I loved Buddy Lee for his sense of humor throughout the book and Ike’s intelligence got them through so many difficult situations! I’m not feeling very succinct tonight, but I thought this was an incredible story and I’d definitely recommend it.
This was actually great on audio so I’d suggest that if you’re like me and had this one sitting on your shelf/TBR for a long time!🎧📚
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime
nebulasaurus'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
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Child death, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Terminal illness, Murder, Racism, Addiction, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcoholism, and Blood
naysayerofthenorth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Death, Deadnaming, and Gun violence
phippsmr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Biphobia, Cancer, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Classism, Domestic abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Outing
sarah984's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Violence, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Car accident, Excrement, Terminal illness, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Deadnaming