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nonidude's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
David Levithan's books always leave me thinking, and I enjoy that even if I don't always love or agree with the characters choices. They do feel like complete character choices though, not the author's.
There were problematic parts especially on behalf of Rhiannon with her fat-phobic comments, refusal to use the correct pronouns for the trans person and what felt like a refusal to understand A's own queerness...
The storyline was still brilliant though, and I think Rhiannon's character added depth and realness to the story in its own way, but I wish the author would've made it more blatantly written in the wrong with A disagreeing or correcting her more openly...
I did like the ending (with exception of Rhiannon's part in it), and I enjoyed that there were multiple twists along the way.
There were problematic parts especially on behalf of Rhiannon with her fat-phobic comments, refusal to use the correct pronouns for the trans person and what felt like a refusal to understand A's own queerness...
The storyline was still brilliant though, and I think Rhiannon's character added depth and realness to the story in its own way, but I wish the author would've made it more blatantly written in the wrong with A disagreeing or correcting her more openly...
I did like the ending (with exception of Rhiannon's part in it), and I enjoyed that there were multiple twists along the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Transphobia and Car accident
Minor: Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
hanniontherun's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia
hannah_27_'s review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Addiction, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Body shaming
paperquilt's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Addiction, and Body shaming
Minor: Car accident, Violence, and Self harm
pricelesswine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
lydiasbooknook's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
I appreciate a book that focuses in one main concept and explores it in many different ways; what would waking up as a new person every day really mean? I feel like it could have gone even more in depth but I feel like the author struck a balance and didnt overstay their welcome. The concept as it was presented left me with more questions I could happily explore on my own. The love story and central plot felt secondary to my own enjoyment of it, but others might get more out if that aspect too. A book I could recommend most casual readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
mariekejee's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
I'm a bit conflicted on this book - the magical realism part is quite nice, but I don't think I liked the romance part as much as I should've. Therefore, it sits at a solid 3,75 stars for me. As A is both and neither boy or girl, it is essentially a queer love story with a non-binary main character, which is commendable for a book from 2012.
As for the magical realism part: I liked getting to read through A living in a new body every day - I actually got excited about getting to meet the new person every chapter. The book poses a lot of questions about A's existence, and is not particularly interested in answering them. I can imagine this will turn some people off, but I didn't mind - this is, for all intents and purposes, more a YA romance novel than it is a book about body swapping, and that's fine.
As for the romance, it is filled with questionable tropes that I don't particularly care about. I'm not a big fan of the insta-love, I physically cringed at A's first description of Rhiannon (she is lost in the sadness, I'm the only one that notices her gentleness, and my favourite: she's pretty but she doesn't see it. Need I say more?!), the stalking,the way A fucks up people's life so they can see Rhiannon , the way Rhiannon properly cheated on her boyfriend and we're supposed to think that's okay because he's a jack-ass . A thinks they're a good person, and can be pretty preachy with lines such as "we have 98 percent in common, but people like to focus on the 2 percent". In fact, Rhiannon and A both are described as compassionate, kind people but their whole affair is riddled with selfish acts, a lot of which have long lasting effects on those affected. It's actually a breath of fresh air when I got to read about the day A lives in the body of a girl who has a healthy, loving relationship with her girlfriend. And don't even start with the ending: A setting Rhiannon up with the body he's inhabiting without their consent. That's.. all types of fucked up. From a romantic standpoint, just because the person he's inhabiting is similar to them, doesn't mean Rhiannon would love him equally, and just sets their relationship up to fail. And again: the non-existent consent?!
Sidenote: I kinda hate how every book about people inhabiting multiple bodies needs to include a fatphobic chapter where the person inhabits the body of a fat person. They're all the same; they wake up struggling to get up because every part of their body is heavy, everything about them is grotesque and gross (the sweat! so much sweat!) and the fat people themselves have no redeemable qualities (none at all! they are literally the worst because they are fat!). Please, thin writers, please stop talking about living in a fat body when you cannot disguise your disgust for them. This chapter wasn't as bad as the one I read in The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but reading it still felt like an unexpected cold shower.
In the end, the romance is kinda iffy but nice enough. I want to think this book would be better suited for me when I was in high school myself, but to be frank, given how serious I was about school I probably would've given myself an aneurysm reading about how casually A skips tests and important events. I liked the body swapping parts, and this has been one of the few books that have kept me hooked in a long time, so I'm grateful for that. Nevertheless, I don't think I would recommend this book to friends.
As for the magical realism part: I liked getting to read through A living in a new body every day - I actually got excited about getting to meet the new person every chapter. The book poses a lot of questions about A's existence, and is not particularly interested in answering them. I can imagine this will turn some people off, but I didn't mind - this is, for all intents and purposes, more a YA romance novel than it is a book about body swapping, and that's fine.
As for the romance, it is filled with questionable tropes that I don't particularly care about. I'm not a big fan of the insta-love, I physically cringed at A's first description of Rhiannon (she is lost in the sadness, I'm the only one that notices her gentleness, and my favourite: she's pretty but she doesn't see it. Need I say more?!), the stalking,
Sidenote: I kinda hate how every book about people inhabiting multiple bodies needs to include a fatphobic chapter where the person inhabits the body of a fat person. They're all the same; they wake up struggling to get up because every part of their body is heavy, everything about them is grotesque and gross (the sweat! so much sweat!) and the fat people themselves have no redeemable qualities (none at all! they are literally the worst because they are fat!). Please, thin writers, please stop talking about living in a fat body when you cannot disguise your disgust for them. This chapter wasn't as bad as the one I read in The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but reading it still felt like an unexpected cold shower.
In the end, the romance is kinda iffy but nice enough. I want to think this book would be better suited for me when I was in high school myself, but to be frank, given how serious I was about school I probably would've given myself an aneurysm reading about how casually A skips tests and important events. I liked the body swapping parts, and this has been one of the few books that have kept me hooked in a long time, so I'm grateful for that. Nevertheless, I don't think I would recommend this book to friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Transphobia
ginbat's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Not all books need to have a thick plot, but to say this book has none would be an understatement. Unlikeable characters can be a good thing, but I just couldn't really find much that I liked about this book. It could be worse I guess? Just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Self harm, Fatphobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Homophobia
novella42's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favorite books. In spite of the many different content warnings, it's one of my favorites to give to teenagers because it's the best recipe I know for empathy.
I turn to the excellent audiobook to get me through hard days.Today I re-read it on the long road trip to my grandfather's funeral, and had completely forgotten about the scene where A witnesses the funeral of a beloved grandfather. It happened when I was twenty miles away from the church, and the writing was so powerful and the different layers of grief resonated so intensely with me that I started sobbing. (Luckily my partner was driving.)
I just... I keep coming back to this book because it keeps meaning more and new and different things to me at different times in my life. I know it's a young adult book, but I'm 37, and was born with a disability. As a kid I would have given anything to have A's blessing/curse. The story of A's life reminds me of the many different facets of human existence, and helps me feel less alone.
I turn to the excellent audiobook to get me through hard days.
I just... I keep coming back to this book because it keeps meaning more and new and different things to me at different times in my life. I know it's a young adult book, but I'm 37, and was born with a disability. As a kid I would have given anything to have A's blessing/curse. The story of A's life reminds me of the many different facets of human existence, and helps me feel less alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Grief, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexism, Stalking, Violence, and Transphobia
Minor: Drug use and Self harm
lauralintunen's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug abuse, Self harm, Car accident, Drug use, Addiction, Bullying, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts