Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

8 reviews

blackbruh's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

It's really fascinating how the black queer experience seems to be no matter what the circumstances. This isn't the first Black Queer Memoir I've read and probably won't be the last. But something that is fascinating is how captivating these stories are despite the similarities. Crazy to think this has been banned in schools? As Black Queer people get little to no guidance in life. Anyways I enjoyed this a lot..kind of moved

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

callidoralblack's review against another edition

reflective

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Racism

thebabybookworm's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

This was an incredible memoir. It was raw and vulnerable, bold and informative. This is a good book for everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Classism, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Racism, Death, Bullying, Sexual content, Incest, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Emotional abuse

cherrypiejay's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This beautifully written book definitely comes with many content warnings for various types of SA, grooming, and trauma. 

I listened to the audiobook, lovingly narrated by the author. It’s such a gritty, raw, honest story about a queer youth finding himself, and I enjoyed every minute of it - even though some bits were tough to get through due to being quite triggering. It’s an important story that needs to be shared.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Death

littlecozyreaderr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Bullying, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Incest, Drug use, and Homophobia

lovetlr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

monalyisha's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

All Boys Aren’t Blue is both a memoir and a manifesto, intended for a young adult audience. Its tone is both academic and intensely personal. It’s a lot of things all at once — which makes total sense, given the subject matter (and the nature of humanity)! Specifically, it’s about growing up queer and black in America  — as an upper-middle-class person with a loving and supportive family (not a narrative we hear often enough). 

Though it feels crummy to say, I didn’t think I was going to like the book at first. The writing, when it’s not erudite in tone, is conversational and it needs sharper editing (the word “though” is vastly overused, for instance). Johnson’s vocal performance is also a bit stumbling. I settled in, however, and I think their goal is accomplished: providing a (sometimes embarrassing) warm, honest, and candid account of life for people who are often ignored. Johnson’s goal is to be a mirror and they shine.

The chapter “Losing My Virginity Twice,” which includes an impassioned call for better — and inclusive!!!— sexual education in America, is vital. Johnson carefully highlights the very real damage that can be (and IS) done by leaving kids ignorant and concurrently teaching them shame. They provide concrete examples from their own life. It’s sometimes difficult to hear but it’s also nigh-impossible to ignore. There’s so much hurt (physical and mental) that doesn’t need to happen, and Johnson leaves us feeling that we can all do better - and that it’s reasonable to work for change, and to hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Terminal illness

starlessnights's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Child death, Grief, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content