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kshertz's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This one took me a while to read because it was so heavy. I definitely loved the whole plot. The idea that someone would be caught trying to cross the border and then used in an experiment is not far-fetched. The idea that it would be used to relieve grief from luckier more privileged people and put that grief on people who are not born in the US seems like something that could totally happen. I think that’s what made it so sad. I do love the love story that unfolds and I love the ending. It’s much happier than I would imagine but I still think it’s an excellent book to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Violence
oliverreeds's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
i really enjoyed this book because the characters were very well-written; however, the plot seemed like a loose association to give the characters room instead of a fleshed out plot. the idea of being a "grief keeper" seemed important at the beginning but slowly lost it's importance. i thought that the story would be based around the main character taking more than one person's grief over the book, but she stayed with only one person which, to me, made the book feel incomplete. the addition of the flashbacks as well seemed inorganic. i don't know what they added to the main character, and i wanted to know more about gabi as well and how the past was affecting her. the climax of the book was also so close to the end and didn't leave time for proper emotional coping with the reality of the situation. however, i loved the characters so much! i feel like they operated like real people (even though i wish marisole had been more vocal to rey about things she was upset about) and i enjoyed the romance element that was added in. oh, and i also wish the side characters had been in more scenes. they were only in one, which i felt didn't make them important to the novel as a whole especially because they were such interesting characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Pedophilia, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
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