Scan barcode
daniellestarredpages's review
Unfortunately, I DNFed this book. The main character's voice was insufferable to read from and the story wasn't interesting enough for me to push through. I read more than 50% of the book and the main character still hadn't started gaining any positive character development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Vomit
addythebookbat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Racism
Minor: Abortion
panickat123's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic relationship and Racism
cakt1991's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own.
My interest was piqued by Boys I Know due to the cover and a brief scan of the blurb. I didn’t entirely expect the book would be so hard-hitting, much less controversial, but indeed it is, per Anna Gracia’s Twitter, with it being on a list of books that are being heavily scrutinized in the wake of book bans in the US.
But upon finishing it, I actually really appreciate that it doesn’t shy away from tough topics teens are navigating, like racism (along with the identity issues that come with being biracial) and sex. And she depicts these issues in all their messy glory, without sugar coating anything; it’s not overly explicit, but it’s blunt and to-the-point, instead of dancing around them. Like many of the characters, this book is unapologetically itself.
I appreciate that June is messy and is allowed to make mistakes. A large part of the book is occupied either by her complicated relationship with her identity, which really resonated with me, and the messy, sometimes toxic relationships she has with boys. As for the former, I really loved her relationships with her family, especially her mother, who has a vibrant personality, all her own.
As for the latter: This is absolutely one of those books where you’ll either love or hate June for how she navigates love and sex, but I’m glad we’re pushing back on purity culture by allowing young women to be able to make mistakes (sometimes multiple times) on the road to finding themselves. I especially love the way she took charge of her sexuality and reproductive agency when a condom broke, procuring and taking a morning-after pill. Interestingly, this may be the first time I’ve ever seen emergency contraceptives used on-page, and as much as I love the representation here, I find that fact simultaneously disappointing.
I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries with flawed protagonists.
CWs: dubious consent, pregnancy scare, racism/microaggressions, toxic relationships
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Toxic relationship
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. I am here for the conversations about race, about June's exploration of sex, and about just messy relationships in general. That's what happens when you're a teen, and Gracia hit the nail on the head with that. June jumps into a series of messy relationships in this book, all for different reasons. It felt so high school and I loved that about this book.
For me, the plot itself felt kind of meandering. It's very much a character driven story, which I normally don't mind. It also fits the time of life June is in, trying to figure out what to do after high school, both meeting her own desires and her parents' expectations. June really struggles with this throughout the story, and it felt really genuine.
Overall, I enjoyed the conversations and the context in this book, it just overall wasn't necessarily a standout for me.
For me, the plot itself felt kind of meandering. It's very much a character driven story, which I normally don't mind. It also fits the time of life June is in, trying to figure out what to do after high school, both meeting her own desires and her parents' expectations. June really struggles with this throughout the story, and it felt really genuine.
Overall, I enjoyed the conversations and the context in this book, it just overall wasn't necessarily a standout for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
pagesofbellerose's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Disclaimer: I was provided both a physical and digital ARC by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.
Rating: Single Star (Recommended)
Boys I Know was everything it had said it would be and more. Depicting messy teenagers, hard situations and bad decisions with a mix of finding oneself amidst the problems spread around, this novel was a very enjoyable read.
Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
Rating: Single Star (Recommended)
Boys I Know was everything it had said it would be and more. Depicting messy teenagers, hard situations and bad decisions with a mix of finding oneself amidst the problems spread around, this novel was a very enjoyable read.
Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
hershelves's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Amy, Wendy, and Mrs. Chu are excellent representations of the overall Asian culture. Asian parents unknowingly pressure their kids to do well in school and, of course, in life. There are parts in this book that I don't like, despite the fact that I enjoy it and find it to be so relatable. The lack of trigger warnings is one of this book's main problems in my opinion. To be honest, I nearly DNF it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content and Racism
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The way June navigates her Asian American identity resonated deeply with me. The way how in Boys I Know, June doesn't feel like she fits in with other Taiwanese teens or American teens. How there's this disconnect between this almost split identity. Never truly feeling like you fit in completely. That's how I feel as well as a Chinese American adoptee. So June's own struggles with her identity in Boys I Know ended up being moving.
On an entirely different level, Boys I Know is about June and love. About the person we become in a relationship and what we are looking for. The trials, pitfalls, and dangers of dating. All balanced with the joys, butterflies, and love. I empathized with how much June just wanted to mean something to someone. How sometimes possession can feel like a rush, like what we wanted, but how it isn't partnership. And without the framework about what that would be like to learn about what we need and want.
The way June navigates her Asian American identity resonated deeply with me. The way how in Boys I Know, June doesn't feel like she fits in with other Taiwanese teens or American teens. How there's this disconnect between this almost split identity. Never truly feeling like you fit in completely. That's how I feel as well as a Chinese American adoptee. So June's own struggles with her identity in Boys I Know ended up being moving.
On an entirely different level, Boys I Know is about June and love. About the person we become in a relationship and what we are looking for. The trials, pitfalls, and dangers of dating. All balanced with the joys, butterflies, and love. I empathized with how much June just wanted to mean something to someone. How sometimes possession can feel like a rush, like what we wanted, but how it isn't partnership. And without the framework about what that would be like to learn about what we need and want.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Abortion
dlrosebyh's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc copy of Boys I Know.
June Chu is the girl who is "just good enough." She's good enough to have a bevy of third-place trophies on her shelf and steal covert kisses from her AP Bio companion, Rhys. But not well enough to fulfill her Taiwanese mother's unyielding demands, or to persuade Rhys to commit to anything other than a well-timed joke.
June's mother demands that she follow in her (perfect) sister's footsteps and receive a (full-ride) violin scholarship to Northwestern (to study pre-med), but she doesn't see the purpose in putting in too much effort if she's going to fail anyhow. Instead, she concentrates her efforts on making her relationship with Rhys "formal," but when her meticulously planned, sloppily performed ploy backfires, she jumps into a new connection with a person who isn't allergic to the word "girlfriend."
However, when the line between sex and love blurs and the pressure to plan out her entire future begins to explode, June will have to decide on whose terms she will live her life—even if it means irreparably fracturing her relationship with her mother.
June piqued my interest. I'm sure I have the same issues she does, both at school and at home. I had issues with my father, mother, and sister, as well as grades, AP classes, additional credits, friendships, mental health, and a feeling of inferiority. As a result, I enjoyed the book a lot. However, I felt like I was skimming through the book because 25 percent of it was monotonous.
As a reader, I want to be able to finish a book with a sense of accomplishment. I can't bring a story to a close without a conclusion. For me, having a regular closure is a must. Therefore, the story’s conclusion did not appeal to me. It was hasty and monotonous. I wasn't sure how to interpret the essay's conclusion, which came off as sudden. As a result, it is a significant omission on the author's side.
I didn't like any of the characters in this novel. June would be my favorite character if I had to pick one. She is compassionate and considerate, and she always puts people first. She is an excellent role model who makes everyone feel at ease. Not just because she was the lead, but because she's the only character who appeals to me. I tried but failed to like the others. It was difficult for me to get along with them. Racism, sexism, and misogyny were all present in each of them. They also came out as domineering, particularly towards June.
Overall, this was a nice read. I recommend it more for the younger siblings more, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racism, Vomit, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
booksofbells's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism