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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I had read this 10 years ago I think I would have loved it. However, the angst and destructive behavior of the main characters was lost on me as an adult. It’s hard to root for them. I also hate when an author uses side characters to only further prop up the main characters. It just felt shallow. I would hate for young adults to read this and think that August’s and Jack’s behavior is ok because in the end they “love each other”. I’m sticking with a 2.75 star rating because I had moments where I truly enjoyed the story, and part of me wanted to best for August and Jack. The story is supposed to be a representation of codependency and it is in the sense that Jack and August are codependent of each other but I feel like the story almost glorifies it. I don’t have any personal experience with codependency but I felt like August’s interactions with his phycologist and the facility workers were unrealistic and not how any medical professional would act. Parts of this story were so frustrating.
This book deserves all the hype and awards it has gotten since its publication. Wow. I’m still processing this and I love books like that.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book and have very little notes. I love reading books with unhealthy relationships, romantic or otherwise, and didn’t realize that would be a main point of this book so I was so beyond pleasantly surprised reading this.
1. I loved both of the main characters. I loved their dynamic and their understanding of it, like whenJack ordered August to kneel and he gave the token denial, which I think was him just making sure it wasn’t a joke, before obeying and just doing what Jack said.
2. The only little bit of disappointment I had was whennone of it was real. I was following along with August, not fully sure what was going on but trusting what Jack was seeing, and I was a little bummed when it was revealed that it was just a tumor. But I liked the conclusion of August still being the champion and them keeping their dynamic.
3. I also loved the twins and kind of wished there was a little more from them.
1. I loved both of the main characters. I loved their dynamic and their understanding of it, like when
2. The only little bit of disappointment I had was when
3. I also loved the twins and kind of wished there was a little more from them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a super quick and easy read, but it tore at my heartstrings. This book portrays mental illness, and more specifically codependency, accurately and in a way where it builds more and more as the story continues. Definitely not a story for a lighthearted read as it tackles some dark issues. It's not overtly graphic, however if you are okay with these darker themes it doesn't go into too much detail. I don't want to spoil the ending to this, because it's really a journey you have to go through with the characters.
That was certainly different from anything I have ever read.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix