Reviews with content warning for Violence - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

The story did capture me, but I feel that it was very surface level. I wish I could say that I enjoyed the book more, as I remembered hearing tons about it before I purchased it some years ago. Maybe part of it is that I’m no longer in the teen-YA age group, and can’t do much relate to the phase of life the main characters are in, but I feel that the writing style also played a role in how I received the book.

A lot of character background stories aren’t very well delved into, and while the book is told in Ari’s POV, I still feel like the reader doesn’t get to know him much, either. Maybe I just had high expectations of the book…

Was an easy and light read, though. The story telling is fast paced, and I can see why some can feel rather connected to this story.

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johanna_1402's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

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

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rachael03's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

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rmkhen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

Oh my goodness. I never leave reviews but I just had to. This story is so real. It’s not the typical YA love story where the feelings are straightforward and everything happens in a cliche. I loved the minimal details and the realness of the dialogue. Perfect in every way. The book is a bit up and down in terms of emotions but don’t worry you will not be left devastated :).

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nere's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Saturday, August 13, 2022 (Reread)

“Sometimes I thought that being fifteen was the worst tragedy of all.”

Ari and Dante are two Mexican-American boys navigating teenage-hood. It’s a quiet simmering novel. To pick this up means you’re peering into the mind of a boy in the suburbs, a stream of consciousness of sorts. And it is equal parts introspective, light-hearted, elusive, and devastating. Mind you, not devastating in all the ways queer people are all too familiar with. It’s devastating because it sees you, it understands you, and it aches because it’s nothing you’ve ever felt before. At least, that’s the only way I can rationalize why I end up in snot-filled disgusting tears every time I finally finish this book. Its chapters are short and its prose is quip to match.

Ari is as insular and alone and freedom-seeking as one constantly is in the gripes of young adulthood. It’s one of the few novels I feel capture this feeling so perfectly. The anguished and flighty hormonal mood swings, mixed in with the specific flavor of repression you experience as a gay teenager. I’m admittedly wary of the sequel since nothing I feel can rival this. Nonetheless, its existence doesn’t change the fact that I’ll always have this warm little moment with Ari and Dante to go back to whenever I so choose. I love it I love it I love it I cherish it. To read this is to peer into my soul just a little bit—it's a looking glass. It reminds me to be kind to what I see.

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