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bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Sexism, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
macjack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
Brilliantly done story of a trans “final girl” against “the many-tentacled monster of gender and capitalism.” Absolutely devoured this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Deadnaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Gore
nikspandya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Start to finish, this is freaking amazing. Highly recommend!!! Check trigger warnings!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
toonyballoony's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
An uncomfortably real read cranking modern times up to an 11 that had me rooting for Sammie through it all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Sexism, and Violence
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Super bananas but overt in its anti-transphobia message. The boys made me so frustrated throughout the book, I’m glad Sammie had her friends and her wife to carry her through all that. Honestly El Campo sounded like a horror world even before the cult and monster stuff.
Whenever I see MLM, my first thought is “men loving men” nice. But it’s gross instead and pyramid schemes run by “bros” are ruining society. I hope the full book is in color cause I liked the coloring of the first few pages but then it went b&w.
Super fun fantasy world about a trans woman just trying to be accepted by her old cis friends. The importance of community and acceptance is so important.
TW: deadnaming, misusing pronouns, transphobia, etc. BUT this book is clearly anti-all that bullshit. Karma is a weird pyramid scheme monster, I guess.
Whenever I see MLM, my first thought is “men loving men” nice. But it’s gross instead and pyramid schemes run by “bros” are ruining society. I hope the full book is in color cause I liked the coloring of the first few pages but then it went b&w.
Super fun fantasy world about a trans woman just trying to be accepted by her old cis friends. The importance of community and acceptance is so important.
TW: deadnaming, misusing pronouns, transphobia, etc. BUT this book is clearly anti-all that bullshit. Karma is a weird pyramid scheme monster, I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Bullying, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cannibalism
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