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rey_therese07's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual content
jamesflint's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use
tiredcath's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
"What if home isn't a place? What if it's a person?"
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio of Before We Disappear. It was my choice to read it and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Oh my god!
Despite the Siri, monotoned voice reading to me, I absolutely fell in love with this book. If you like "In Deeper Waters" by F. T. Lukens, you'll love this one.
Let me start by saying: this is not an enemies to lovers story. This is not a rivals to lovers. Before We Disappear is a story of hope. Yes it's about magicians and it's very whimsical, but it's mostly a story about hope and what a little bit of hope can inspire in people. It's about the family you create and learning to trust people again. Jack and Wilhelm meet under unusual circumstances and yet, somehow create one of the most heartfelt connections I've come across.
What I love:
- The characters! I absolutely loved the two leads and their friends. I absolutely hated the villains, so much so that I physically needed to roll my eyes every time a certain someone came up. The side characters were lovable and lively. I didn't feel as if anyone lacked personality or distinctive characteristics.
- A historical gay romance without blatant homophobia and the entire plot being "we can't be together because of the time"? Sign. Me. Up.
- The writing was stunning. Especially with Wilhelm. I truly felt I was with him in every situation, and although I didn't always agree with every decision he made, I understood why he had to make them. Shaun David Hutchinson knows how to write characters we root for. (And characters we hate.) Writing chemistry is difficult, and I think this is a good example of writing characters who make sense together. You don't need characters to be desperately in love to make their love feel real to the reader.
What I didn't love:
- The writing could get repetitive. As much as I did enjoy what I was listening to, some of the descriptive words got a little too much. So many as if's, and comparisons and poetic imagery- it dragged the novel just a bit.
- I did find it interesting that although there wasn't any homophobia, racism and sexism still existed in this somewhat real world. I definitely feel like there could have been other ways to give characters hardships or show how evil a character is without using that. I don't feel like you should be able to pick and choose what type of discrimination should be in your book when it's grounded in the real world.
Overall, I absolutely adored this book. I loved the characters, the plot was emotional and adventurous, and inspiring. I cannot wait for September to get my own physical copy. I think anyone who wants a light fantasy or it's their first time delving into anything other than contemporary will devour this. I don't know what it'll be about but if Hutchinson wants to write a sequel (Particular about a certain side couple) I will be there first in line.
Rating: 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Drug use
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