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kylasmv15's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Infertility
Minor: Abortion and Rape
xolobooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion and Infertility
erinakeller's review
- 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
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, and Rape
mymosstx's review
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion and Infertility
brazenbookbabe's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Racism, Racial slurs, and Outing
Minor: Infertility and Abortion
bookdragon217's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This novel takes place in contemporary NY and the language choices around substance use, HIV awareness and sexual assault did not sit right with me because the instances added to more stigma rather than provide insight and empathy. It read like language that has been historically been used by elite Whites especially, to further marginalize certain groups and dehumanize them. Papi was repeatedly called a "junkie" or "crackhead" and dehumanized with no exploration into his backstop. His identity was that of having AIDS and being a drug user. The use of the word "AIDS" in such a violent way by several characters was off putting especially in the ways it was being weaponzied by the characters in 2017 setting. I see what the intent was but because the issues stayed surface level nothing new new was added to the narratives about substance use and HIV. In fact, it didn't even build empathy for the character who was most affected. Papi definitely didn't deserve that treatment as well. Therr is also a sexual assault that was also hard to read because of the choices that were made. It felt like the abuser got to walk away without repercussions and made it feel like dramatic effect only.
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
armontheroad's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Transphobia, Racism, Sexual harassment, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Outing, Infertility, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Abandonment
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Colonisation, Grief, Homophobia, Outing, Rape, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion and Infertility