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halierivers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh man, this book got me emotional in the best/worst way.
Firstly, let me address what I didn’t see ANYWHERE else and had to hunt down myself - one of the POV’s is not in American-Standard English. It’s written with Trinidad Folk Language/Grammar as one of the MC’s is from there. It took me a few chapters to move past this, as it is quite jarring, but your brain picks up smoothly after that.
Secondly, THIS WAS SO SAD AND SO GOOD? Ughh I just am so glad I read this and thank the Muses that this book exists for teens and adults out there who stumble upon it. It’s about love, rejection, grief, death, and spirituality. And on top of that, we have a cast of (mostly) wholesome, loving, supportive parents which we do not see enough in media.
Lastly, the ending was not my favorite. But it makes sense with the story. I just wish it were drawn out a bit more bc I didn’t feel like I got to really say goodbye to these amazing characters.
Firstly, let me address what I didn’t see ANYWHERE else and had to hunt down myself - one of the POV’s is not in American-Standard English. It’s written with Trinidad Folk Language/Grammar as one of the MC’s is from there. It took me a few chapters to move past this, as it is quite jarring, but your brain picks up smoothly after that.
Secondly, THIS WAS SO SAD AND SO GOOD? Ughh I just am so glad I read this and thank the Muses that this book exists for teens and adults out there who stumble upon it. It’s about love, rejection, grief, death, and spirituality. And on top of that, we have a cast of (mostly) wholesome, loving, supportive parents which we do not see enough in media.
Lastly, the ending was not my favorite. But it makes sense with the story. I just wish it were drawn out a bit more bc I didn’t feel like I got to really say goodbye to these amazing characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child death and Child abuse
kegila's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Child death, and Drug use
Minor: Transphobia
Incarcerationsuchacommotion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
4.5
This book took its time with me. It was stunning from start to finish, but it needed to be digested and appreciated at every step. A wonderful look into love, friendship, life, and freedom.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
maxinekelly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Cancer and Racism
dandeliongirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Grief, Sexual content, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Racism, Abandonment, Child death, and Police brutality
citrus_seasalt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a beautifully crafted story and tbh I wish I read it in audio now because of the format it’s written in(oratory format! crucial, considering the cultural ties to Black storytelling passed through generations) but I genuinely wouldn’t have had the time if that was the case, I’m already juggling two other audiobooks right now. Still, it took me a while to get through this, but I’m glad I got to savor it, because I haven’t done that with a book since March?!
Audre and Mabel’s bond was so sweet. It developed naturally over the course of the novel, which was refreshing to read, and you could tell there was an honest romantic love between them, not just attraction. I smiled a couple of times when they’d joke with each other and share some of the more emotional moments of the story. And Mabel’s friend group!!! I love that they accepted Audre so quickly, and honest to god they bounced off of each other well. An accurately-written teenage friend group lacking the drama I’m used to usually reading about.
I wasn’t expecting Afua to have his own POV chapters, I thought he’d only be referenced by Mabel! But I thought his storyline was handled well, it’s extremely rare for me to find sympathetic and developed incarceration stories in the books I pick up(for the moment), and also his passages felt like something I’d be able to read in a solid book located on the shelves of bookstore owners or ordinary folks who were revolutionaries in their prime. Felt like I could smell the dust on Mabel’s copy of Afua’s titular published book.
Goodness though, as much as I rooted for Mabel’s hope in holding onto her life, and Audre’s hope for finding community, “The Stars And The Blackness Between Them” really pulled on my heartstrings!! Though I can’t say I full-on cried, I teared up a couple of times. Mabel especially feels like a character that can exist outside of fiction, who can be a person I see on a sidewalk or in a hallway one day.
I’m outside of the target demographic of this book: while I am queer, I’m also White, but I appreciate how this distinctly felt written for a Black and queer audience. Of course, that meant there were some references that didn’t come to me as naturally, or jokes not meant for me to laugh at, but I am glad that readers within that group can have a book undeniably queer, spiritual and Black like this one. One that is emotional, but in a variety of ways, not for the sake of only showcasing trauma.
However, the reason this isn’t at a 5.0 is because a) although this is an OwnVoices novel, a couple of Trini reviewers expressed concerns and criticisms regarding some of the rep of their culture(to my understanding the author is also American, but also, you cannot expect one author to be the voice of an entire marginalized group and sometimes that rep can be flawed!), b) some of the magical realism elements threw me off? Nothing against the genre, it’s one of my favorites, but there wasn’t much consistency whenever those elements were brought up and because this was a mostly contemporary story it could be sometimes confused for metaphor. Because of that, my feelings on the ending remain mixed.
Personally, I’d recommend this! Although there’s an award on the cover I don’t see many people talking about it and it’s kinda disappointing.
Audre and Mabel’s bond was so sweet. It developed naturally over the course of the novel, which was refreshing to read, and you could tell there was an honest romantic love between them, not just attraction. I smiled a couple of times when they’d joke with each other and share some of the more emotional moments of the story. And Mabel’s friend group!!! I love that they accepted Audre so quickly, and honest to god they bounced off of each other well. An accurately-written teenage friend group lacking the drama I’m used to usually reading about.
I wasn’t expecting Afua to have his own POV chapters, I thought he’d only be referenced by Mabel! But I thought his storyline was handled well, it’s extremely rare for me to find sympathetic and developed incarceration stories in the books I pick up(for the moment), and also his passages felt like something I’d be able to read in a solid book located on the shelves of bookstore owners or ordinary folks who were revolutionaries in their prime. Felt like I could smell the dust on Mabel’s copy of Afua’s titular published book.
Goodness though, as much as I rooted for Mabel’s hope in holding onto her life, and Audre’s hope for finding community, “The Stars And The Blackness Between Them” really pulled on my heartstrings!! Though I can’t say I full-on cried, I teared up a couple of times. Mabel especially feels like a character that can exist outside of fiction, who can be a person I see on a sidewalk or in a hallway one day.
I’m outside of the target demographic of this book: while I am queer, I’m also White, but I appreciate how this distinctly felt written for a Black and queer audience. Of course, that meant there were some references that didn’t come to me as naturally, or jokes not meant for me to laugh at, but I am glad that readers within that group can have a book undeniably queer, spiritual and Black like this one. One that is emotional, but in a variety of ways, not for the sake of only showcasing trauma.
However, the reason this isn’t at a 5.0 is because a) although this is an OwnVoices novel, a couple of Trini reviewers expressed concerns and criticisms regarding some of the rep of their culture(to my understanding the author is also American, but also, you cannot expect one author to be the voice of an entire marginalized group and sometimes that rep can be flawed!), b) some of the magical realism elements threw me off? Nothing against the genre, it’s one of my favorites, but there wasn’t much consistency whenever those elements were brought up and because this was a mostly contemporary story it could be sometimes confused for metaphor. Because of that, my feelings on the ending remain mixed.
Personally, I’d recommend this! Although there’s an award on the cover I don’t see many people talking about it and it’s kinda disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Homophobia, and Cancer
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Slavery and Antisemitism
cinnamonroll42's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-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? No
5.0
I first started this book in digital format, and I struggled a little with the language. I then checked the audiobook out from the library, and I completely loved it. The narrators brought an important depth to the story with their melodic accents and incredible delivery. What a beautiful story told in a beautiful way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Homophobia, Cancer, and Medical trauma
astralfeline's review
emotional
inspiring
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? No
5.0
I absolutely loved this story. I loved the writing in this book. It was almost poetic and lyrical. I loved the characters, and really empathized with them. It also had me reflecting on many things like life, death, spirituality, and community. I enjoyed the audiobook and thought the narrators were great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry
zombiezami's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This is what The Fault in Our Stars wishes it was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Child abuse, Mental illness, Outing, Chronic illness, Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Cancer, Death, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual harassment, Grief, Classism, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, Colonisation, Addiction, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Slavery