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apileofcranes'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? It's complicated
5.0
No matter how small, every character seems so vibrant with their own story and interpersonal relationships with not only the main character but everyone else around them, which I feel is rare to find in a character. It makes the city it's set in feel that much more alive, and the plot to save a dying local diner that much more compelling. Add in a dash of magic that blends perfectly with the feeling of being a small part of a big city, an incredible found family, and a heist, and I'm not sure what could top this. And it also managed to make the subway romantic. I can't think of a single critique.
This book is so unapologetically steeped in queerness, both past and present, that it makes me want to cry. The emotional core of the story expertly weaves plotlines and history together in a way that had me sobbing. I loved this book.
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Transphobia, Police brutality, Biphobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
the_true_monroe'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Homophobia, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Lesbophobia, Vomit, Excrement, Animal death, Drug use, and Classism
mold_munchr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Police brutality, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
kalmia31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, Biphobia, Religious bigotry, Addiction, and Death
kitheminges's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Biphobia, Confinement, Grief, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Fire/Fire injury
chantellimus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Transphobia, Addiction, Antisemitism, Car accident, Drug use, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Police brutality, and Violence
eamily's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Hate crime, Cursing, Confinement, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Dysphoria, and Death
allygator'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
I was a little nervous to pick this up because I love Red, White & Royal Blue so much and because I was a little scared to see how McQuiston tackled a more sci-fi heavy plot. However, this did nothing but exceed my expectations. The sci-fi elements made this book super engaging to me, and I loved trying to solve the mystery of Jane before the characters did.
I battled through a reading slump while working through this, and I think it's a testament to the quality of this book that I enjoyed every bit of it even when I struggled to pick up any sort of text. My enjoyment of this wasn't hindered by my brain being annoying.
The romance McQuiston wrote was, as always, absolutely swoon-worthy. I was so invested in whether or not Jane and August would get together and stay together that the things that I was worried about (namely: subway sex) weren't as strange as I thought that would be. My little asexual heart was not made uncomfortable by the sexy scenes :)
This is, though, a more adult book than RWRB is. The sex scenes are more explicit and don't just fade to black. Not a problem for me, but something worth noting for anyone considering picking this up.
I do think that it is important to mention that there is a line in this that has been slightly controversial in which August tells Jane that racism isn't as bad now as it was in the 70s. Some reviewers of color have brought up that this is a inaccurate and insensitive statement to make, and while I agree, I do think that the context of the scene has a lot to do with why it is said. Jane is freaking out, and August is trying to calm her down, so she says that times have changed and Jane could be herself in the present. I don't think that August was right (she's definitely very naïve and speaks from a position of incredible privilege), but I do understand why she said what she did. As a reviewer of color myself I don't have a problem with the line, but I understand why so many of my peers do, and it's not my place to judge them for that or say that they're wrong.
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Minor: Transphobia
ana1s'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
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, Vomit, and Hate crime
anniereads221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Biphobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Police brutality