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maryy_r0se's review against another edition
**note: I read this as part of an ongoing project to read and critique young adult books that include themes of mental illness**
High schooler Aaron Soto is on the path to recovering from his father's suicide and his own suicide attempt. With Gen, his free-spirited and loving girlfriend at his side, he is ready to move forward, even when the pain feels overwhelming. His progress gets derailed when he befriends Thomas, a quirky kid with a love of movies and no real direction in life. Aaron feels connected to Thomas in a confusing way that seems to transcend friendship. Add to that his community's mounting tension over the Leteo Institute, a controversial medical practice that claims to suppress distressing memories, and Aaron begins to find himself in a freefall that may very well be his undoing.
There is a lot to like about this book. I don't regularly read young adult novels, so it took me a while to adjust to the writing style. However, Silvera achieves at writing a main character who is deeply flawed and yet the reader can still root for. The pacing was inconsistent at parts, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it in the first half, but the second half really picked up for me.
The comparisons to Eternal Sunshine are certainly warranted, and at times I did wonder if it felt close enough to the movie to dull my enjoyment of the book; it is not a rip off by any means, but didn't fully grip my attention because of the occasional inkling of "haven't I heard this before?" I kept waiting for Thomas, the book's resident movie buff, to bring up the Eternal Sunshine connection. That said, I have very little experience with sci fi content, and perhaps if I did I would simply see this as a common enough trope that it wouldn't stand out.
I read the version with the altered ending, and while I think I personally would have appreciated the original ending a tad more, considering it is a teen book I think adding the extra chapter was the right move. I was left with a major question at the end:
I read this book to screen it for a library booklist I am making regarding teen mental health books, and I have decided to approve it for the list. Despite some flaws, I think it shows a nuanced perspective on familial suicide and mental health, while also providing representation to often unrepresented groups.
Graphic: Death of parent, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Minor: Gun violence and Pregnancy
dhruthick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Child death
Minor: Rape
19becky97'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence
half_bloodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Toxic masculinity is real in this one.
This is not only a sad book, it's also really hard to go through. I advise against reading this when you are going through a depressive episode.
It's not a feel good story, and most of the characters are pretty hateful. Thomas -who's pretty flawed himself- keeps calling these guys he knows from childhood his "friends", when they're nothing but! He also looks for his happiness in others which is an awful message and he's super entitled.
The book is pretty short, but Part 1 is boring. The pacing's inconsistent.
The premise is interesting, but it didn't feel explored to its potential.
I appreciate the diversity. Not only in race and sexuality, but in social class. Poverty isn't addressed enough, unless it's for the same plot we all know. But poverty has many faces.
I don't appreciate Aaron's transphobic wording about the character Nate (especially when he wants to be accepted). Or how he hurts the people who truly care about him again and again. And how he decides who someone is and labels them. You don't get to tell someone hoe they identify or attribute a label! You can give them resources, support, discuss such subjects, and let them figure it out!!
I don't like how there's a message that a boy liking girl characters, girl action figures and girl pop singers equals being gay. The mc himself says these traits were hints of his sexuality! That is such patriarchal heteronormative bs, and it's actually part of a bigger issue: men must want women, but they can't respect them, while respecting and looking for the approval of other men, but keeping a distance.
If I took a shot every time "no homo" was said, I'd have liver failure! Just. Stop.
Just what even was the point of this book? If it was: embrace past hardships & traumas, so you can overcome and move on, then I personally don't think it was handled right.
I loved They Both Die at the End, but this one wasn't it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt and Transphobia
eleyden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
sandy_21's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
sqlvatvres's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Minor: Gun violence
alyssa_simard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence
fenton2021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Domestic abuse
drizzlybear'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
3.25
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence