Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Though, generally I'm more of a plot guy, and the plot isn't very structured (but it really doesn't have to be). This story wasn't boring as a whole, but the prose was dense and boring for me at times. I don't fault the author for it. I think it's that this type of book (character-led--and unlikable characters at that) isn't really my thing, but I have rated it higher than other books that weren't really my thing. And unlike other books that aren't my thing, I am considering getting a copy to re-read sometime in the far future.
4/5 stars
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Grief
Minor: War, Classism
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Car accident
Minor: Homophobia, Antisemitism
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Antisemitism, Grief
see, i think my main "problem" with this book is that i really, really wanted to absolutely love it. i was expecting a dark academia type of story - and don't get me wrong, they got the dark part very well. it was the academia part that i believe i've been missing.
also, while i do think julian and paul's toxic and obsessive relationship was quite well portrayed, i struggled to actually connect with them (and, by extension, with any character in the story). i did appreciate how they progressively get more and more unhinged, but they already started off as a bit insane. i didn't really empathize with neither of them, even if i did suffer for them when they did.
also, i don't know if paul is canonically neurodivergent, but he does exhibit MANY autistic traits, which i found curious.
overall, i did like the book, but i didn't love it, and i also didn't feel like it was a solid 4 stars. i also checked the trigger warnings for it and was still unpleasantly surprised when i noticed how graphic and frequent self-harm is in the story because it wasn't listed when i checked the tags, so please do take care and check those before reading this!
Graphic: Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Death of parent
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Antisemitism, Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Antisemitism, Car accident, Suicide attempt
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War
The language is interesting and compelling. It's got quotes worth writing down for days.
I love me some tragic gays, but the relationship between these guys is more distressing than compelling at any given point. We spend a lot of time hearing about how they love each other, but not a lot of time seeing why they're lovable.
I finished it, but mostly out of determination and curiosity rather than wanting to read it.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide, Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Antisemitism, War
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Outing, Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality, War
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual assault