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kate_lemer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The author mentions doing some research into the topic (being a homosexual in the 20th century), so I will not dispute that. What I wonder about is her remarks about Marion - how accurate could her depiction of life in 50s England be? Or is it just the author's biased projection onto the past?
Regarding the characters, I'm confused. Tom is not acting consistently at all.
The reading experience - reading the first half - is also spoilt by the fact that something must happen for their lifes to come crashing down. Reading the second half is spoilt because
If I wanted to read homophobic drivel, I would've selected something written in that period.
Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny
marireadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Violence
nina_iv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny
avishajain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Harry styles world domination ig. But fr tho, this book in itself was something I wasn't expecting it to be and I'm excited to see harry play Tom (still wondering how they're gonna make the hair on his stomach blond 💀) (and oh also, there's no smut in here, so why is everyone so excited to see if Louis will body doubling for Patrick during the sex scenes since because of covid sex scenes are being filmed with the actors irl partners, because I don't think there's gonna be any sex scenes if there's no smut) Anyway, enjoy this objective review of the book, keeping aside the fact that Harry's gonna be playing Tom is the only reason I picked it up:
After reading this book all I can think about is three lives wasted, all because of homophobia, and about how angry I am at the law making it literally illegal to be gay, and how many lives have been ruined because of this. I am happy that our society is improving, but I am very well aware of the abundance of homophobia there is out there, and I just hope we can remove all of this evil from out society as soon as possible. A good book in general, but it was an average book for me, it just wasn't particularly for me but that doesn't mean you won't love it either, you might. This book did evoke a lot of feelings in me, especially how helpless I felt and how helpless queer people must have felt back then, it just makes me so angry and so sad everytime I think about it. I just hope our society keeps improving till there is no more of this evil left. I truly feel sorry for Marion, Patrick and Tom, all three of them had a disappointing life, I wish they could've simply been themselves, and after reading this I consider myself luckier than ever to be living in this age where you can be whoever you want to be, at the very least in the eyes of law. Very proud to say that the Indian law has even legalised gay marrige, and I hope every country does so, as it is our very, very basic right to be able to love whoever we want to love. An impactful book, will definitely never forget it.
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
luccamaria's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
yeah, fuck you marion, but also lowkey fuck you tom for continuing to be in a relationship with her and then blaming her for never leaving while it obviously takes two people to make a relationship.
i know what marion did was by far the most horrible thing in this book & this whole thing is fucked up for everyone involved, and mostly for patrick, but why is marion the only one being blamed when tom could've left her too, considering that he clearly didn't love her & it must have actually been easier for a man with a stable job to divorce and be unmarried in the 50s than it must've been for a woman?
also, we stan queen julia!
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Outing
haley_vol6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
The plot on it's own had a great premise, but didn't deliver in my opinion. By making the whole story just really revolve around only these three human beings it got boring at one point. But I have to say that I would be pleased if this novel would be rewritten by the author so that these flaws could be fixed.
The characters were not my kind of dish. People who know me know that I really need well worked out characters in books. That means that they have to be diverse, have depth and not behave the same way all the time, unlike the characters in this book. I'm not saying they were bad, I'm just saying, that I personally didn't like them.
Also, I really really disliked the reapresentation of gay/achillean men in this book. The character of Patrick was in my opinion build wholly on the prejudice that gay men are sex driven and can only think about that. And that is not a good way of representing our minority.
The writing was okay. It wasn't all bad and it could buold a really beautiful atmosphere at some points by describing not too detailed but just detailed enough. But then there were moments, when that atmosphere was just suddenly tore to shreds.
Again, people who know me, know that I don't like first person POV very much, and it definitely didn't help about my opinion on this book.
So, was there anything that I liked? Not really. And I don't want you, dear reader of my review, to just read my review, because there are people out there who like this book. And maybe you are one of them.
So, yeah, I didn't like this book, but just like with all books, that is just one opinion.
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
neptunereign's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
woolfism's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Medical content, Dementia, and Death of parent
lhenschke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism