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2.83 AVERAGE
2.83 AVERAGE
This book will be a great conversation starter. I am part of the LGBQTI community and to be honest, I had never given much thought to genderqueer people and how their lives could be.
I did find that at times the author kept repeating a cycle, or even thought processes which frustrated and confused me, as the reader. However, when I finished the book and thought more about it, I realised that this is probably how it is for people within this community as they struggle not only to find their place but also themselves and their voice.
This is a brave book that I hope will find its way into the world and that it will become a conversation starter.
I did find that at times the author kept repeating a cycle, or even thought processes which frustrated and confused me, as the reader. However, when I finished the book and thought more about it, I realised that this is probably how it is for people within this community as they struggle not only to find their place but also themselves and their voice.
This is a brave book that I hope will find its way into the world and that it will become a conversation starter.
I was given this book to read by a (now longtime ex) friend back when I was a teenager because it ‘reminded her of me’ during a period in my life while I was questioning my gender identity. I feel so vindicated knowing so many other people hated it. The depictions of queer people and women made me so uncomfortable I ended up recycling the book. I felt personally offended it made her think of me and after revisiting the story by reading other reviews I remember why. Just horrid genderqueer representation and other horrid characters. I specifically remember the main character neglecting to use people’s preferred pronouns as some sort of quirk since T (the character) is ‘confused’ with T’s gender identity was the last straw for me. Just awful.
I’m gonna piss people off with this but it needs to be said.
I have a problem with people who don’t want to learn things from reading.
I was in college in 2015, (the year this came out) Queer college kids and people figuring out their sexualities can be just as shitty as straight cisgender people. This is so realistic, I saw my peers in this book. Annoying as hell fellow queer folks making mistakes and being shitty to each other, and others doing their best.
Robin Talley is one of the most honest true to life authors that I have read and it is so fucking refreshing.
People do suck people are problematic. That’s literally part of the conflict in books. People have nuance, people get to be messy and make mistakes. And her books show that.
Unfortunately, there are a generation of readers that do not understand that characters can be just as flawed and based on real people.
Are there slurs and hateful people in the book? Yes because it’s realistic fiction. It is not an CW, TV show where people have a deep dark secret that justifies their actions. It is a book. You can learn something. Make an actual effort.
It is much more rewarding to learn and see a different perspective and someone going through the hard things versus a book where there is no conflict.
I have a problem with people who don’t want to learn things from reading.
I was in college in 2015, (the year this came out) Queer college kids and people figuring out their sexualities can be just as shitty as straight cisgender people. This is so realistic, I saw my peers in this book. Annoying as hell fellow queer folks making mistakes and being shitty to each other, and others doing their best.
Robin Talley is one of the most honest true to life authors that I have read and it is so fucking refreshing.
People do suck people are problematic. That’s literally part of the conflict in books. People have nuance, people get to be messy and make mistakes. And her books show that.
Unfortunately, there are a generation of readers that do not understand that characters can be just as flawed and based on real people.
Are there slurs and hateful people in the book? Yes because it’s realistic fiction. It is not an CW, TV show where people have a deep dark secret that justifies their actions. It is a book. You can learn something. Make an actual effort.
It is much more rewarding to learn and see a different perspective and someone going through the hard things versus a book where there is no conflict.
I started to read this, then looked at reviews and decided not to finish it. Yikes! Looks like the stuff I started to notice about it continued to play out through the book. A romance with a genderqueer person sounds good, but this feels like it was written by someone with no knowledge of what that really means. I know, it's easy to get things wrong because this stuff is so new to most people, but I'm no expert on every ripped-from-Tumblr variation on sexuality and gender identity, and even I noticed some pretty offensive flaws. Plus, the two main characters are as white and privileged as possible - Harvard and NYU? Yawn. Get back to me when someone does a genderqueer YA/NA book right.
Talley’s writing style is always on point - just realistic enough, with a few beautiful lines that will punch you in the gut and echo through your mind after you close the covers. Toni and Gretchen seemed too perfect in the beginning, but how they evolved and grew was amazing and heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time.
This book will contain spoilers, and quotes from the book.
When a book opened up with a relatable litany such as these:
You’re bound to think, “Oh, hell yes. This shit might be good.” It better be good.
However, What We Left Behind drastically failed in every standard that I was highly holding itself into. There are a lot of offensive and alarming situations that made my skin crawled.
There is a prominent character in the story, named Caroll. He is gay, and he keeps using transphobic and lespobic slurs. He never got called out for that. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t give you the right to undermine your peers, especially since you have an inkling about each other’s struggles. He could also be seen a handful of times saying really awful transphobic shit, being passed as a cheap joke. There should’ve been a trigger warning for this.
An icing on top, one of the character also said something very biphobic. Alas, this character also never got called out.
I understand books aren’t perfect, but when you’re representing a single group, you don’t have to throw the rest of the LGBTQ+ clause under the bus to make your book relatable.
The prose the author was aiming to deliver was about how difficult it is to figure out your sexuality and gender identity. It’s daunting and confusing. Though, sadly the execution of it was perplexing, instead of being enlightened I feel oddly winded up. I see that’s the reason why a lot of readers felt bereft with What We Left Behind.
Lastly, the relationship between the two main characters had so much potential. But, once again, it failed disastrously. There’s a lot of undermining on both of their parts, it’s painstaking to read. If you're looking for a book with a good f/f or wlw, this is not it. I supposed, the purpose of it was to show how to navigate relationship when you’re a teen. Even though, that’s the case Gretchen easily become very dear to me. I just wish the story was fleshed out.
Jessie Devine’s and Adriana’s review perfectly captured what went wrong with What We Left Behind. I highly recommend reading their nuanced thoughts.
When a book opened up with a relatable litany such as these:
You’re bound to think, “Oh, hell yes. This shit might be good.” It better be good.
However, What We Left Behind drastically failed in every standard that I was highly holding itself into. There are a lot of offensive and alarming situations that made my skin crawled.
There is a prominent character in the story, named Caroll. He is gay, and he keeps using transphobic and lespobic slurs. He never got called out for that. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t give you the right to undermine your peers, especially since you have an inkling about each other’s struggles. He could also be seen a handful of times saying really awful transphobic shit, being passed as a cheap joke. There should’ve been a trigger warning for this.
An icing on top, one of the character also said something very biphobic. Alas, this character also never got called out.
I nod. “So is Inez bi or what?”
“Last I heard, she identifies as heteroflexible.” Derek laughs again.
“So she’s a step up for me. My last relationship ended because it turned out his idea of bi meant ‘screwing every other guy within a hundred-foot radius and then lying about it.’”
I pause with my drink halfway to my mouth. “Wait, what did you say?”
“Oh, it’s nothing bad. Heteroflexible means she mostly likes guys, but not always. She thinks it’s more accurate for her than bi.”
I understand books aren’t perfect, but when you’re representing a single group, you don’t have to throw the rest of the LGBTQ+ clause under the bus to make your book relatable.
The prose the author was aiming to deliver was about how difficult it is to figure out your sexuality and gender identity. It’s daunting and confusing. Though, sadly the execution of it was perplexing, instead of being enlightened I feel oddly winded up. I see that’s the reason why a lot of readers felt bereft with What We Left Behind.
Lastly, the relationship between the two main characters had so much potential. But, once again, it failed disastrously. There’s a lot of undermining on both of their parts, it’s painstaking to read. If you're looking for a book with a good f/f or wlw, this is not it. I supposed, the purpose of it was to show how to navigate relationship when you’re a teen. Even though, that’s the case Gretchen easily become very dear to me. I just wish the story was fleshed out.
Jessie Devine’s and Adriana’s review perfectly captured what went wrong with What We Left Behind. I highly recommend reading their nuanced thoughts.
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated