Reviews

The TOTC book just get better and better honestly. I heard that after the 3rd book the books take on a darker tone and it was so true. Besides the sex scenes that were a tad more explicit things got DARK especially since the book mirrored the AIDS crisis that was happening at the time of the serial's publication.

It is definitely something special, hearing the beginnings of the AIDS crisis written by a gay man who faced it himself. It's really interesting, hearing the characters talk about having to start using condoms at the end of the "free love" era that took place with the previous 3 books. Of course, the death of Jon was the most heartbreaking. He was the person who probably deserved to die the least.

Also, Mouse is my favourite character in the series so I was happy that this was very much a Mouse book. His adventures in London with Wilfred and Mona was fun, but I lowkey wish this book was all Michael and no one else lmfao. Mouse was not his typical happy-go-lucky self as he was facing the death of the man he was in love with and I think it was just amazing seeing Mouse face this new "gay disease" that is impacting his life. And as a reader reading this in 2019, when Michael states that "ONLY" about 1000 men have died of AIDS so far, it kills me to know that so much more hardship is coming.

I was VERY VERY angry at Mary-Ann throughout this whole book and as a previous Brian-hater I have to say that BRIAN DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER UGH. Im glad they worked it out but the fact that Mary-Ann thought she could have a baby with someone who looked like Brian just so she wouldnt have to tell Brian he's sterile was like WHAT?? MARY-ANN, you cant just turn back from that. But once again, the author does his thing where he writes about seemingly impossible and crazy situations like that but makes it all work out.

I love TOTC. Again, cant wait to read the next one.

undeniableemg's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

both funnier and more full of heart than the prior volumes of the series

finnthehuman217's review against another edition

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5.0

A beautiful production, I can’t stand how bad At communication Mary Ann is. If She just talked to Brian none of the events of the book would have taken place. But again overall great way to work in the impact of AIDS. I have heard that later in the series Michael had something too. So I am not looking forward to it.

gretago's review against another edition

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5.0

I liked this 4th book in the series much better than the first 3. In the first 3, there were several narratives going on at the same time; but with this many characters, that type of story-telling seems ideal, that way you get to know each character better. One of the narratives was always a bit outlandish and "over the top." But that was ok sort of, it added a bit of comical relief, and you definitely had to suspend your fictional disbelief to get through that one narrative per book.

The 4th book did have the "oh, just by coincidence" storyline, but it wasn't over the top like in the first 3 books.

With that said though, I love the writing style, I love the characters, and I want to read the entire series (before watching the reboot on Netflix).

But I agree with some of the other reviews here about Mary Ann and her actions in Book 4. We come to realize that she isn't flawless and saintly (like in Book 1), but her Ohio-naivete has morphed into another type of naivete.

mcraig0490's review against another edition

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3.0

Probably the most over the top books I've read. The endings are always decent but the journey to get there is extremely rough.

jamiemonster's review against another edition

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4.0

Really, really enjoying this series.

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