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ramreadsagain's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
This is such an interesting book and definitely one to reread at some point.
I truly feel like it defies categorisation - it's slice of life but action-packed but just vibes but completely alien but mundane.
Paul as a character is obnoxious and self-obsessed but in a way that is so obviously because he feels lost within the world and within himself that you can't help but love him. The book follows about a year of his life in the early 90's, and while I wasn't around back then to confirm, the time and place felt so vibrantly captured.
It's a very compelling book, though slow at times and I think either a bit more plot or a bit more character development would have given it a higher rating from me.
Also as a warning, it's one of those books with a lot of sex but none of it is particularly pleasant to read.
I truly feel like it defies categorisation - it's slice of life but action-packed but just vibes but completely alien but mundane.
Paul as a character is obnoxious and self-obsessed but in a way that is so obviously because he feels lost within the world and within himself that you can't help but love him. The book follows about a year of his life in the early 90's, and while I wasn't around back then to confirm, the time and place felt so vibrantly captured.
It's a very compelling book, though slow at times and I think either a bit more plot or a bit more character development would have given it a higher rating from me.
Also as a warning, it's one of those books with a lot of sex but none of it is particularly pleasant to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Death
gwarren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.0
An interesting take on gender, sexuality and fluidity. Lots of parts I enjoyed, others I felt I was losing a connection with the character more than how it was suggested I should be...
Liked the ambiguity of the ending and the chaos Paul/Polly's life seemed to follow throughout the narrative and appreciated the sex positive, non-binary, shape-shifting protagonist.
Also want to mention how grounded the setting of the story was. There were so many references to 90's pop culture, the LGBT+ community, the AIDS crisis (and it's after effects) and similarities between today's queer youth to then.
Overall, an enjoyable story with lots to sink your teeth into. May read again in the future.
Liked the ambiguity of the ending and the chaos Paul/Polly's life seemed to follow throughout the narrative and appreciated the sex positive, non-binary, shape-shifting protagonist.
Also want to mention how grounded the setting of the story was. There were so many references to 90's pop culture, the LGBT+ community, the AIDS crisis (and it's after effects) and similarities between today's queer youth to then.
Overall, an enjoyable story with lots to sink your teeth into. May read again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
pkc's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I think any book that gives me so much frustration around the central protagonist will always be annoying and I’ll find it challenging. The premise was wild and the prose was funny in places, but there was little to no character development so I’d say that’s something to bear in mind as you undertake this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
packedjam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
i think this book was very good at what it set out to do. unfortunately for me, what it set out to do drove me up the wall
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Cursing, Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Transphobia
laurataylor's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Terminal illness
emmersnicole's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty
mateoj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
honestly, I think I partially stuck with this one because I loved reading about early-90s gay culture and was kind of enthralled by it—the writing is not fantastic (not horrible, either) and the plot dragged on occasion, but the setting and "set dressing" more than made up for that to me. this could be, objectively speaking, much better than it is, but I'll take the parts I liked and leave the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Infidelity
levtitticus's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Medical content, Mental illness, Outing, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
beanwa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
I really struggled to get into this book. I bought it last year, read the first chapter, put it down. Then picked it up again four months ago - reread the first chapter, put it down. Then a week ago, I decided I just had to soldier on and get this book over with. And I ended up fucking loving it!!!!
The first chapter is sex scene after sex scene, which was a bit off-putting, but I'm really glad I stuck with it in the end. I love Paul, love Jane, I love how delightfully camp, cool, overly romantic, and pretentious Paul is - while still remaining vaguely self aware. The book often pokes fun at Paul's youthful romanticism, which I really enjoyed.
I rated this five stars because of how much fun I had reading it and how much I loved the concept (especially as a non-binary/gender fluid person!!) - but I did find the ending a bit unsatisfying + I found the artsy snippets (fairy tale-esque, mythical, etc.) a bit boring. Mostly because I wanted to get back to Paul! The ending felt open ended, which on one hand makes sense as Paul is in his very early 20s but I wish he'd gotten a better ending.
The first chapter is sex scene after sex scene, which was a bit off-putting, but I'm really glad I stuck with it in the end. I love Paul, love Jane, I love how delightfully camp, cool, overly romantic, and pretentious Paul is - while still remaining vaguely self aware. The book often pokes fun at Paul's youthful romanticism, which I really enjoyed.
I rated this five stars because of how much fun I had reading it and how much I loved the concept (especially as a non-binary/gender fluid person!!) - but I did find the ending a bit unsatisfying + I found the artsy snippets (fairy tale-esque, mythical, etc.) a bit boring. Mostly because I wanted to get back to Paul! The ending felt open ended, which on one hand makes sense as Paul is in his very early 20s but I wish he'd gotten a better ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Vomit, and Death
lucypratt7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, and Terminal illness