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bzliz's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This audiobook was pretty average in every way. I liked Divya’s narrator more than Aaron’s, who dialed up a pretty stereotypical “gay” voice for Aaron’s best friend Ryan. That wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t mind either character though they both made frustrating choices. Be real, Aaron, that guy is never going to pay you. Don’t do work for free! And Divya, if you have a cop investigating the harassment you’ve been facing, it would probably help to share the threatening emails you’ve been getting so they can (get a load of this…) investigate them.
As for the story itself, it’s a YA book so it really skims the surface on how deep these issues can go. It tries to take on topics like bullying, harassment, sexual assault, doxxing, racism, etc. without really saying much of anything. It feels like the author is a little out of touch with the online world.
If the book world was a restaurant, this book would be some chicken tenders off the kid’s menu: tastes okay but kind of bland and the portion is pretty small.
As for the story itself, it’s a YA book so it really skims the surface on how deep these issues can go. It tries to take on topics like bullying, harassment, sexual assault, doxxing, racism, etc. without really saying much of anything. It feels like the author is a little out of touch with the online world.
If the book world was a restaurant, this book would be some chicken tenders off the kid’s menu: tastes okay but kind of bland and the portion is pretty small.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Bullying, Cursing, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault
dragongirl271's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
“They're just words. But then D1V flashes through my mind, reminding me of the way words hurt. The gaping wounds they leave behind.”
Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith
What a fantastic YA novel that's a book I think everyone who spends any amount of time online should read. The plot, to me, well encapsulates a conversation a lot of content creators have been having for years about how dangerous trolling can truly be.
This book follows two teens as they navigate some terrible online harassment together. Divya, aka “D1V”, is a popular streamer for a space exploration game and has worked har6d to build a safe community for her fans. Like any streamer, she deals with a lot of hate, but being a teen Arab girl on the internet definitely doesn't help keep the trolls away. She meets Aaron, an aspiring game designer, by chance in the game and they start to slowly form a friendship (and maybe more). Divya's also scheduled to make her first appearance at a gaming convention, but the hate is worse than ever. Her worst trolls have organized and are determined to make her leave streaming with constant harassment, threats of doxxing, and more than one physical confrontation.
There's a lot that happens in this book and I ate it all up. Some of the conversations between these two had me grinning and giggling cause they're so damn cute. Smith writes young female protagonists really well and definitely did his research about life in the gaming sphere. The characters and scenario felt very real and like something you could actually read about in the news tomorrow. I just wish the institutional support Divya received was more of the norm for people dealing with harassment online.
1st person POV from two main characters. Fast-paced. Tackles cyber harassment and the dangers of trolling taken too far. Extremely cute romance.
Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith
What a fantastic YA novel that's a book I think everyone who spends any amount of time online should read. The plot, to me, well encapsulates a conversation a lot of content creators have been having for years about how dangerous trolling can truly be.
This book follows two teens as they navigate some terrible online harassment together. Divya, aka “D1V”, is a popular streamer for a space exploration game and has worked har6d to build a safe community for her fans. Like any streamer, she deals with a lot of hate, but being a teen Arab girl on the internet definitely doesn't help keep the trolls away. She meets Aaron, an aspiring game designer, by chance in the game and they start to slowly form a friendship (and maybe more). Divya's also scheduled to make her first appearance at a gaming convention, but the hate is worse than ever. Her worst trolls have organized and are determined to make her leave streaming with constant harassment, threats of doxxing, and more than one physical confrontation.
There's a lot that happens in this book and I ate it all up. Some of the conversations between these two had me grinning and giggling cause they're so damn cute. Smith writes young female protagonists really well and definitely did his research about life in the gaming sphere. The characters and scenario felt very real and like something you could actually read about in the news tomorrow. I just wish the institutional support Divya received was more of the norm for people dealing with harassment online.
1st person POV from two main characters. Fast-paced. Tackles cyber harassment and the dangers of trolling taken too far. Extremely cute romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Racism, and Sexual assault
_mariah_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Racism
Minor: Emotional abuse and Violence
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.5
You don't have to be a creator of online content to know that any comments section past a certain size will be a cesspool. Don't Read the Comments, a story about the harassment and doxxing of a teen streamer named D1V (real name Divya) by a faction of trolls who think she, as a girl and a person of color, is "taking up space" meant for a "more deserving" streamer. The other MC is a boy named Aaron whose game-developer boss undervalues his labor and continually puts off paying him for the storywriting he's done for an upcoming release. At one point, a woman-centered con panel consists of three men, a male moderator, and one woman. Chef's kiss; very true to life, however unfortunate.
This book gripped me in the first chapter and didn't let go until the end; I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading it before making myself go to sleep and save the climax and ending for morning. Author Eric Smith's teenagers don't necessarily read as their correct age in all regards (increasingly an issue in YA books), but the friendships ring true for what I remember of being a teen, as does the emotional immediacy. I enjoyed how it brought up financial insecurity with Divya and her mom and parents projecting their dreams onto their kids with Aaron and *his* mom. Overall, this book deals well with a number of heavy issues.
I do, however, question the validity of making police the "good guys" in this plot. Particularly when juxtaposed with one of the MCs' parents being Palestinian, it's both unrealistic and not a good look. (For those who might be unaware, occupied Palestine is a testing ground for a lot of the weapons, gear, and tactics that U.S. cops use, often for police brutality against protestors and BIPOC.) Also, the book starts out mentioning how Divya's friend was assaulted and harassed yet the police couldn't/wouldn't do anything about her attackers, so it's weird to me that the same set of cops not only believe Divya and take her online harassment seriously, but take major steps to keep her safe.
Although the ending is slightly bittersweet because Divya ultimately decides to give up her streaming career, I found the resolution satisfying. All the antagonists get some form of comeuppance, and while I would've liked to see Aaron's boss get "canceled" on-page, it's implied that his career is in serious jeopardy as a result of his theft of employees' intellectual property. Largely due to the tone of the book (and a bit because I follow Smith on Twitter and know what he's about), I felt like I could expect a happy ending even during the worst lows for each character, which is something I really appreciate in YA contemporary novels.
Don't Read the Comments was a wonderful book; its few flaws didn't prevent me from enjoying it at all. It does feel a bit like it was written for adults rather than teens, but I think the older YA set would still find it enjoyable. Finally, the mention of the Desi Geek Girls podcast made my heart grow a million sizes and I'd rec this book based on that alone.
Content notes: mention of sexual assault, the perpetrators sharing a video of it publicly, and the victim's resulting trauma; sexual harassment; online harassment; doxxing and real-life threats; attempted harm by deliberately trying to induce a seizure
This book gripped me in the first chapter and didn't let go until the end; I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading it before making myself go to sleep and save the climax and ending for morning. Author Eric Smith's teenagers don't necessarily read as their correct age in all regards (increasingly an issue in YA books), but the friendships ring true for what I remember of being a teen, as does the emotional immediacy. I enjoyed how it brought up financial insecurity with Divya and her mom and parents projecting their dreams onto their kids with Aaron and *his* mom. Overall, this book deals well with a number of heavy issues.
I do, however, question the validity of making police the "good guys" in this plot. Particularly when juxtaposed with one of the MCs' parents being Palestinian, it's both unrealistic and not a good look. (For those who might be unaware, occupied Palestine is a testing ground for a lot of the weapons, gear, and tactics that U.S. cops use, often for police brutality against protestors and BIPOC.) Also, the book starts out mentioning how Divya's friend was assaulted and harassed yet the police couldn't/wouldn't do anything about her attackers, so it's weird to me that the same set of cops not only believe Divya and take her online harassment seriously, but take major steps to keep her safe.
Don't Read the Comments was a wonderful book; its few flaws didn't prevent me from enjoying it at all. It does feel a bit like it was written for adults rather than teens, but I think the older YA set would still find it enjoyable. Finally, the mention of the Desi Geek Girls podcast made my heart grow a million sizes and I'd rec this book based on that alone.
Content notes: mention of sexual assault, the perpetrators sharing a video of it publicly, and the victim's resulting trauma; sexual harassment; online harassment; doxxing and real-life threats; attempted harm by deliberately trying to induce a seizure
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
lynnlovegreen's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
Another hit by Eric Smith! Divya, AKA D1V, leads her #AngstArmada through a popular online game--to help her mom pay the rent. Aaron would rather play and create games than study for medicine no matter how much his doctor mom insists.
When they meet online, they have no idea that sexist haters and a lying game developer will lead to them meeting face-to-face.
When they meet online, they have no idea that sexist haters and a lying game developer will lead to them meeting face-to-face.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Bullying, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault
heather077's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Racism, Sexism, and Stalking
katilovesthewoods's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
kmcdonell's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
2.75
Relatively fun, but wildly unrealistic. Misogynistic trolls don't show up in person in pathetic t-shirts to identify themselves as harassers, and police certainly don't give a single shit about gender based online harassment, and would never stage a sting operation at a convention. Reads kind of like a 45 year old's idea of how twitch streaming and conventions work. If Div was big enough to be on one of the main banners on the convention website, they would have staff to meet her and not expect her to run the gauntlet of public entry lines. I liked her banter with Aaron, and his cute romantic gesture at the end. And that Jason got his comeuppance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
kaseyrlili's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexism, Stalking, and Violence