Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Boo

This book may honestly be my favorite book that I’ve read in a long time - it’s not perfect, but the emotions that this book brought up for me make it so that even the things that I wish were different don’t detract my rating for this book.

Things that I wish were different - the main character doesn’t sound 13 years old whatsoever. I definitely got used to it, and the book acknowledges that he’s different from other 13 year olds, but I do wonder why he wasn’t aged up even slightly. The book also feels very very long. I think it’s all worth it, but there definitely were moments where I’d check to see how much longer I had left.

World building was also done but left me with many questions - and I feel like these things were all mentioned in other reviews and I can see why it would push a rating down.

That being said - I absolutely loved it. I feel like this book had a theme of forgiveness as Gunboy evolves. (This is spoilered and if you haven’t read don’t click it!) The concept of forgiving

a stranger, then a best friend, and finally yourself

was just wonderfully done and I adored it. The relationship with Boo and Johnny was also a beautifully done relationship - a wonderful platonic relationship with depths of love. I would honestly read a sequel from

Johnny’s POV post-Town

. Overall I just loved it dearly - I feel like with Boo it’s difficult for me to cry with books, but the last half had me tearing up and I was fully invested in the story.

Content Warnings

obviousthings's review

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emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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? It's complicated

3.25

I loved the characters, but ultimately I don’t think this book handled themes of mental illness and suicide very well. I found the ending really upsetting.

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