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elies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hard to overstate how clearly this book signposts Things Will Get Bad, or to overstate how much it made me feel kind of ill and desperate and sad even with all the warnings. Kind of enjoyed it? Very well-written and research seemed very thorough, but also I wish I'd never read certain passages because those images will never leave me. Took a while to click but once the action moves to the Western Front I found I had to keep reading. There's a particular plot reveal that falls exactly halfway through which I liked very much as a structural choice! I liked it a lot but it might not be one I come back to very much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
fermin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
I wanted to give it some time to organize my thoughts before I rated this novel, but thing is, it's clinging to me, it's got awesome staying power. I think this book is a lot more than the sum of its parts, it's sadder, blunter, more tragic, more vicious than I was expecting. But it's also happier, warmer, more hopeful than I could've imagined. Alice does an amazing job weaving amazingly thorough research of historical facts with a queer love story that is neither tragic nor pure wish-fulfillment. I can only commend her, not only does she manage to find a way out of this thorny maze, but she does so gracefully, with beautifully written prose.
I'm not sure it's a spoiler to say there is a happy ending awaiting the reader, but if I try to find a reason why it's still rolling around in my head, making me sentimental at unexpected moments, I'd venture it is because while that's incredibly hopeful and nothing short of revolutionary, it's near impossible to come away from this book not realizing it was also incredibly painful and sad to earn it. Perhaps the most bittersweet book I've ever read? I wish I could be mad at Alice, you know, blame her of writing a misery porn novel in the vein of A little life and contributing to the ever growing pile of queer romances all implicitly sharing the lesson that true everlasting happiness is not for the queers. Yet I can't say that's what she did, she gave us a happy ending, one that she laboured immensely to inject with verisimilitude, I'm just wishing we could bask in that happiness a little longer, but then again, that's not the story the novel is about.
I'm not sure it's a spoiler to say there is a happy ending awaiting the reader, but if I try to find a reason why it's still rolling around in my head, making me sentimental at unexpected moments, I'd venture it is because while that's incredibly hopeful and nothing short of revolutionary, it's near impossible to come away from this book not realizing it was also incredibly painful and sad to earn it. Perhaps the most bittersweet book I've ever read? I wish I could be mad at Alice, you know, blame her of writing a misery porn novel in the vein of A little life and contributing to the ever growing pile of queer romances all implicitly sharing the lesson that true everlasting happiness is not for the queers. Yet I can't say that's what she did, she gave us a happy ending, one that she laboured immensely to inject with verisimilitude, I'm just wishing we could bask in that happiness a little longer, but then again, that's not the story the novel is about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
madamelacy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
hjt93's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
lanamae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Grief
c0bbled0gs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Didn't necessarily love the ending / last 3rd. Not that it was bad but I preferred earlier in the book. But it was really good overall
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicide
natalielcheung's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
blanxx_2102's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's taken me a while since finishing this book to write a review because I had to gather my thoughts. This is already a big plus; I love books that make me reflect and force me to marinate in my opinions.
I approached this book in full knowledge of the *very* general overarching plot: two young men (Ellwood and Gaunt) enlist in the war effort and fall in love in the meantime. However, I was not expecting the sheer depth of the novel. I was firstly taken aback at how real and beautiful the main characters' friendship is while they're attending Preshute school. The way in which Winn explores both boys' longing (with a capital L) for each other- all the while being in denial that their affections are reciprocated- completely pulled at my heartstrings. Then, Winn added salt to the wound when they enlist, which is only healed when they reunite. I will avoid spoilers, but I will say that the emotional rollercoaster does not lessen, however, her writing is so captivating and vivid and stunning that even the pain is worth the read.
In addition, I was truly in awe at how much research must've gone into the book, which Winn perfectly showcases in a way that doesn't feel like you're reading a history book. I learned so much about World War I- be it about life in the front and trenches, how enlistment worked, the variety of afflictions and injuries possible, the treatment of prisoners of war, the In Memoriam columns... You name it, Winn covers it. I also really like that she doesn't sugarcoat any dark history facts, it made the narrative all the more credible. It often felt like, as readers, we were right at the frontline with the characters.
I would urge everybody to read this because it is such a fantastic, emotionally intricate, thought provoking read that kept me raptured for every page and which will make me reflect for a long time to come.
I approached this book in full knowledge of the *very* general overarching plot: two young men (Ellwood and Gaunt) enlist in the war effort and fall in love in the meantime. However, I was not expecting the sheer depth of the novel. I was firstly taken aback at how real and beautiful the main characters' friendship is while they're attending Preshute school. The way in which Winn explores both boys' longing (with a capital L) for each other- all the while being in denial that their affections are reciprocated- completely pulled at my heartstrings. Then, Winn added salt to the wound when they enlist, which is only healed when they reunite. I will avoid spoilers, but I will say that the emotional rollercoaster does not lessen, however, her writing is so captivating and vivid and stunning that even the pain is worth the read.
In addition, I was truly in awe at how much research must've gone into the book, which Winn perfectly showcases in a way that doesn't feel like you're reading a history book. I learned so much about World War I- be it about life in the front and trenches, how enlistment worked, the variety of afflictions and injuries possible, the treatment of prisoners of war, the In Memoriam columns... You name it, Winn covers it. I also really like that she doesn't sugarcoat any dark history facts, it made the narrative all the more credible. It often felt like, as readers, we were right at the frontline with the characters.
I would urge everybody to read this because it is such a fantastic, emotionally intricate, thought provoking read that kept me raptured for every page and which will make me reflect for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
drsa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
edendoesreading's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Alice Winns debut novel has to be the best book I read in 2024.
The writing is beautiful and poetic, the characters human and loveable. The way Winn writes about love, life, war and the human experience is truly remarkable. This book made me think, laugh and cry all in under 400 pages
The writing is beautiful and poetic, the characters human and loveable. The way Winn writes about love, life, war and the human experience is truly remarkable. This book made me think, laugh and cry all in under 400 pages
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail