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jiminluvr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
meemawreads's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book isn't an easy read: a newly-graduated Ponyboy numbs his gender crisis with drugs, alcohol, and sex. Knowing this is a fictionalization doesn't make it easier to watch Ponyboy's struggle. Besides all the self-destruction he comes to harm at the hands of others, even his caring girlfriend who isn't supportive of his transition.
Although it is a hard read you can tell Eliot Duncan is a poet, this is gorgeous prose. If you can pick this up without hurting your heart, I recommend it. We get some healing in there, too 🖤 four taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Although it is a hard read you can tell Eliot Duncan is a poet, this is gorgeous prose. If you can pick this up without hurting your heart, I recommend it. We get some healing in there, too 🖤 four taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder
rkjreads's review against another edition
2.25
I struggled with this one a bit. I was tempted to put it down at times, I found the prose difficult but perhaps it's just more poetic than I'm used to. It made things hard to follow at times, and I found some of it a bit cringey although this is consistent with the main character so I can believe it's a stylistic choice.
It follows a trans character struggling with addiction, which for me felt hard to read but again, I believe it's an accurate description of addiction which is all-consuming. I found the exploration of the MC's gender to be intriguing, especially as it intersects with his addiction.There was a scene about two thirds through where the MC experiences an episode of bulimia which felt out of place. Body image/struggling with food had not come up at all previousy so it seemed to come out of nowhere and was not mentioned again. There are also a few typos I noticed which took me out of it a bit.
I did start to enjoy it more towards the final quarter of the book which felt more nuanced and grounded, this makes sense given what the MC is experiencing. Overall, I think it paints a strong picture of this character and his struggles through addiction as well as his relationship with gender. Would be interested to read more from this author.
It follows a trans character struggling with addiction, which for me felt hard to read but again, I believe it's an accurate description of addiction which is all-consuming. I found the exploration of the MC's gender to be intriguing, especially as it intersects with his addiction.
I did start to enjoy it more towards the final quarter of the book which felt more nuanced and grounded, this makes sense given what the MC is experiencing. Overall, I think it paints a strong picture of this character and his struggles through addiction as well as his relationship with gender. Would be interested to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Vomit
greydaze's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Rape
earlydecember's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Ponyboy delves into the eponymous character's struggles with addiction as he embraces his trans-masculine identity and navigates messy queer relationships. The book has an experimental, hybrid form that includes emails, letters, and poems written to writers, philosophers, trans people, and others.
The prose style can be disorienting since Ponyboy's narrative voice prioritizes emotion and theory over concrete description. Especially in the first half of the narrative when Ponyboy is in the thick of his addiction and not in a clear state of mind. In the second half, Ponyboy goes to rehab but experiences a relapse. Personally, what sold me is the realistic portrayal of recovery and its setbacks, healing and its discomfort.
As a debut novel, Ponyboy shows great promise, and I am eager to see Duncan's future works. If you're a fan of queer, character-driven stories, I think you'll enjoy Ponyboy too.
Thank you to NetGalley and W.W Norton for the digital ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and W.W Norton for the digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, and Transphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder
q_tipsforsale's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Animal death