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annagerman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The characters were well-written and authentic.
The MC's uniqeu voice was definitely the best part of the book, he's flawed, rude and self-absorbed, but also likeable and touching, I couldn't help but root for him.
I really loved the relationships in this book, they were so complex and realistic.
Also I love the depictions of the big city, its energy and presence.
However, the structure and the pacing felt off. It was like a collections of short stories about the same character, but the timelines and emotions didn't always aligne.
I actually had a time getting back into the story after putting the book down, it took me a while to get though it even though it's so short.
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Mental illness, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Cancer
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Death, Outing, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
sky143's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide
bethantg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Homophobia, and Cursing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Abortion, Colonisation, and Fatphobia
el13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Terminal illness
savvylit's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This novel discusses the ups and downs of multiple types of love - platonic love, familial love, toxic love, queer love, and true love. Being as this book's timeline begins while he is still in university, Young is a (self-aware) hot mess for much of this novel as he figures out what kind of adult he wants to be. Spoiler alert: like most of us, he never really lands on one path for life guidance. Rather, Young remains unabashedly himself while continuing to ride the ups and downs of life, bouncing from job to job and romantic relationship to romantic relationship. His narration is delightful, relatable, often heartbreaking, and reflective.
Overall, Love in the Big City is a millennial new-adult novel about how simultaneously difficult and beautiful it can be to give your love to another person.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Outing, Grief, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel is less a single story, and more a loosely connected collection of four stories detailing the relationships (mainly romantic) of a gay Korean man in his 20s and early 30s named Young who's seeking success and love but failing on both of those. I found it to be surprisingly relatable due to the issues Young deals with around his boy problems, his pessimism, and his experience as a gay man and writer. Despite it having a relatively mundane plot, the melodrama of it all kept me invested.
Moderate: Cancer, Body shaming, Drug use, Homophobia, and Alcohol
jazzy_t's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Having not particularly read much translated fiction this has really made me want to read more. Reading story's based in diffrent places and cultures, was great.
This book had me gripped from the start, and the end will stick in my head I think. Would highly recommend!
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Abortion
Minor: Mental illness
nenaveenstra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Een minpuntje vind ik dat het boek is opgedeeld in vier verschillende delen, en dat die delen lijken geschreven voor een publiek dat de andere delen niet gelezen heeft. Daarmee bedoel ik dat er soms dingen overbodig worden uitgelegd, omdat je dat letterlijk tien bladzijden geleden nog gelezen hebt. Misschien zijn ze eerder in een ander format gepubliceerd?
Ook vind ik het taalgebruik soms wat simpel. Dat ligt niet aan de auteur, maar aan de vertaler - die heeft ongetwijfeld zijn best gedaan om zo trouw mogelijk te blijven aan het origineel, maar daardoor voelde het soms wat clunky. Ook stonden er heel veel referenties in naar dingen uit de Koreaanse popcultuur die niet werden toegelicht voor de lezer, dat vond ik jammer.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
himangi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Homophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit and Stalking