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kirsten_marie's review against another edition
3.75
I enjoyed this book a lot actually, and I felt like I got a tiny insight into what it is like dealing with having HIV in your life in one way or another. This was truly heartfelt and feel-good. I could have done with a little bit more of the romance though, but that's just me. The plot was also pretty predictable more often than not, but it didn't bother me that much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
innastholiel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Sexual content
jayisreading's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This was a pretty fast and somewhat mindless read for me. What was interesting was that this book put the conversation of HIV at the front and center, bringing to attention the stigma against it, the struggles that HIV positive people face, and the impact it has on day-to-day life. Another interesting thing that I liked about this book was it focused on modern-day Brazil. Following three young gay men (I believe the youngest was eighteen while the oldest was twenty-one), you learn a lot about HIV... maybe to the point that the book ends up reading more like an information booklet than an actual book.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually learned a lot more about HIV, but I also picked this book up with expectations that I’ll get a story of some kind. Yes, there was a story, but this definitely wasn’t a plot-driven book and focused more on delivering information about HIV to me. There was some interesting character development, though, to show how HIV personally impacted the protagonists, but it wasn’t anything revolutionary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Hate crime
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
blynecessity's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. This book is, like... good. Really, really good. I was worried it'd be too much of a romance or try to shoehorn the HIV in, but this was a freaking beautiful read.
I think part of what caught me off guard about this book was that there were three well-developed main characters, when I was expecting two of the POV characters to carry the one MC. Another nice thing is that there were lots of feelings, but this didn't feel like two-dimensional anger or frustration or romantic affection. And! Speaking of affection, there was so much platonic, fraternal, and parental love on display here, and it was well-executed.
I think seeing things from all three MCs' points of view was honestly an amazing (if risky) decision. The delivery of the info of medications and side effects, misconceptions and stigma would have been really clunky if it had all been delivered to one MC or at one time. Instead, this book showed that it was well-written, well-edited, and well-translated by pulling on my heartstrings without being cliche, and by introducing so may memorable characters in such a short book.
I think part of what caught me off guard about this book was that there were three well-developed main characters, when I was expecting two of the POV characters to carry the one MC. Another nice thing is that there were lots of feelings, but this didn't feel like two-dimensional anger or frustration or romantic affection. And! Speaking of affection, there was so much platonic, fraternal, and parental love on display here, and it was well-executed.
I think seeing things from all three MCs' points of view was honestly an amazing (if risky) decision. The delivery of the info of medications and side effects, misconceptions and stigma would have been really clunky if it had all been delivered to one MC or at one time. Instead, this book showed that it was well-written, well-edited, and well-translated by pulling on my heartstrings without being cliche, and by introducing so may memorable characters in such a short book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
thiscubed's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
so this review is probably going to be lacking bc depression is kicking my ass but I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audiobook and the narrators were fantastic. It was great to hear the names pronounced the way they would be in Portuguese instead of butchering them in my head. The story was also fantastic and while I knew most of the HIV information from a series of classes I took, it was still informative and I think this is a great book for young people (this is really new adult, not YA but alas publishing still refuses to acknowledge new adult as an age group) who are either dealing with HIV themselves or maybe have friends or partners with it. Honestly, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is interested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
mezzano's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
4.0
A few months back, I attended a virtual book promotion where Alice Oseman, Leah Johnson, and Lucas Rocha discussed the importance of positive and happy queer narratives for teenagers and young adults. While I knew the premises behind both Oseman and Johnson's works, that experience had been the first time I was introduced to Rocha and his upcoming book. While Lucas Rocha talked about his inspiration for Where We Go From Here, I found it hard to picture a story about AIDS as one which could have a realistic and uplifting message. What I realize now, months after attending the virtual event, was that I was still holding onto internalized homophobia and prejudice against HIV. The book, Where We Go From Here is an incredibly sensitive and timely story about three individuals whose stories all converge at their experiences enduring and overcoming the stigma which surrounds HIV.
Through telling the story with the perspective of three main characters, Where We Go From Here holds a level of nuance which is unmatched by other popular books surrounding HIV. All three characters are allowed to express their feelings, fears, and prejudices in order to grow into more understanding people. By having a person who has been living with HIV, a person recently diagnosed, and a character recently confirmed as HIV negative, Rocha masterfully touches on the sensitive aspects of HIV which is still largely taboo. A turning point in the story is when one of the character's says that the true curse of the disease is how society views an HIV positive person. HIV has become a manageable chronic condition, but people still reject the individual and treat their illness as a personal falling. This is seen through the heartbreak of one of the main characters.
Where there is heartbreak, there is also a deep sense of community. The comradery and support the characters have from others is uplifting. As characters learn to live with their new diagnosis, other characters serve as a support system to affirm positive messages. Characters are reminded that HIV is no longer a death sentence, and that with proper medical treatment a normal life is possible. There are details I learned about HIV that I have never learned in sexual education classes, like the fact that you can catch multiple strains of HIV. The fact that options for healthy and safe sex with HIV is discussed, such as explaining what undetectable status means and what PreP does, is so important to see in young adult literature. Knowing that there are options to practice safe sex with or without HIV is something that everyone should have some understanding of.
The only aspect of the book I wish had been better executed was the fact that many of the characters had the same voice, which made following along to each of the three perspectives difficult as I read the story as an audiobook. Had the voices been more distinct, this would have easily been a five star read for me.
Through telling the story with the perspective of three main characters, Where We Go From Here holds a level of nuance which is unmatched by other popular books surrounding HIV. All three characters are allowed to express their feelings, fears, and prejudices in order to grow into more understanding people. By having a person who has been living with HIV, a person recently diagnosed, and a character recently confirmed as HIV negative, Rocha masterfully touches on the sensitive aspects of HIV which is still largely taboo. A turning point in the story is when one of the character's says that the true curse of the disease is how society views an HIV positive person. HIV has become a manageable chronic condition, but people still reject the individual and treat their illness as a personal falling. This is seen through the heartbreak of one of the main characters.
Where there is heartbreak, there is also a deep sense of community. The comradery and support the characters have from others is uplifting. As characters learn to live with their new diagnosis, other characters serve as a support system to affirm positive messages. Characters are reminded that HIV is no longer a death sentence, and that with proper medical treatment a normal life is possible. There are details I learned about HIV that I have never learned in sexual education classes, like the fact that you can catch multiple strains of HIV. The fact that options for healthy and safe sex with HIV is discussed, such as explaining what undetectable status means and what PreP does, is so important to see in young adult literature. Knowing that there are options to practice safe sex with or without HIV is something that everyone should have some understanding of.
The only aspect of the book I wish had been better executed was the fact that many of the characters had the same voice, which made following along to each of the three perspectives difficult as I read the story as an audiobook. Had the voices been more distinct, this would have easily been a five star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Blood
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