Scan barcode
zanm's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.25
Audiobook was phenomenal due to the talents of the cast, really sucked me into the story.
——
Content of book itself: pretty good :) as a gay dude learning italian…I felt very seen. Really a sweet story and I was generally invested in the story. Good characters, medium pace, and realistic stakes.
———
Critiques-
One thing that felt like it would come up later but never did wasthe illegal wikipedia junk. I was waiting for repercussions.
Also, the ending didn’t feel very fleshed out compared to the rest of the book. We spent all this time building up this story and then it fizzles out… I suppose that can be true to life but I’d prefer a clearer ending (thoughthe voicemail was a great final note)
———
Overall solid, would read more from the author.
——
Content of book itself: pretty good :) as a gay dude learning italian…I felt very seen. Really a sweet story and I was generally invested in the story. Good characters, medium pace, and realistic stakes.
———
Critiques-
One thing that felt like it would come up later but never did was
Also, the ending didn’t feel very fleshed out compared to the rest of the book. We spent all this time building up this story and then it fizzles out… I suppose that can be true to life but I’d prefer a clearer ending (though
———
Overall solid, would read more from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Bullying, and Alcohol
Moderate: Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
chaptercharms's review
5.0
"It is such a privilege, you know? To get to be yourself, all of yourself, in this great big world."
Thank you NetGalley and Hot Key Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is incredibly genuine all the way though and I loved every single page. It made me emotional and warm, happy and sad, and it made me laugh out loud many times.
One of the main themes that this book emphasises is how important it is to be yourself, but how difficult this may be and how some people will find it infinitely harder than others. Amir struggles with this throughout the book and it causes him to literally flee to another country where he still struggles with this. He goes on a long journey, trying to reconcile his identities as gay and Muslim, his families, and figure out how to be true to himself.
It also really highlighted the prejudices that people face simply for being brown and Muslim as the whole story is based around Amir and his family talking to US Customs after they had a small argument on a plane. Amir's mother, who desperately tried to deescalate the whole situation, and Amir's father, who had been in this situation before, in particular showed the fears that Muslims face.
I will never know the fears that they face in the airport or, as a white queer women, the particular fears that Amir faces coming out to his Muslim family, and I think it's important that we acknowledge this and use our privilege to amplify these voices. It's incredibly important and vital for teenagers in Amir's position to have access to hopeful stories like this to show them things can go better than they are expecting and that, even if they don't, you can always find a family who will accept you for you.
The family that Amir finds is flawed and brings it's own ups and downs, as all families are and do, but it is overall a great group that helps Amir along his journey and helps him to see he will always have people on his side. I particularly loved Neil and Valerio for their authenticity and encouragement. The group in general really reminded me of Les Amis de L'ABC from Les Mis which I loved.
Overall, this was a fantastic book and I can't wait for it to come out later this year so that more people can read it. It deals with a lot of important topics and themes, but Ahmadi handles them all with care and writes a deeply genuine, hopeful and hilarious book.
Thank you NetGalley and Hot Key Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is incredibly genuine all the way though and I loved every single page. It made me emotional and warm, happy and sad, and it made me laugh out loud many times.
One of the main themes that this book emphasises is how important it is to be yourself, but how difficult this may be and how some people will find it infinitely harder than others. Amir struggles with this throughout the book and it causes him to literally flee to another country where he still struggles with this. He goes on a long journey, trying to reconcile his identities as gay and Muslim, his families, and figure out how to be true to himself.
It also really highlighted the prejudices that people face simply for being brown and Muslim as the whole story is based around Amir and his family talking to US Customs after they had a small argument on a plane. Amir's mother, who desperately tried to deescalate the whole situation, and Amir's father, who had been in this situation before, in particular showed the fears that Muslims face.
I will never know the fears that they face in the airport or, as a white queer women, the particular fears that Amir faces coming out to his Muslim family, and I think it's important that we acknowledge this and use our privilege to amplify these voices. It's incredibly important and vital for teenagers in Amir's position to have access to hopeful stories like this to show them things can go better than they are expecting and that, even if they don't, you can always find a family who will accept you for you.
The family that Amir finds is flawed and brings it's own ups and downs, as all families are and do, but it is overall a great group that helps Amir along his journey and helps him to see he will always have people on his side. I particularly loved Neil and Valerio for their authenticity and encouragement. The group in general really reminded me of Les Amis de L'ABC from Les Mis which I loved.
Overall, this was a fantastic book and I can't wait for it to come out later this year so that more people can read it. It deals with a lot of important topics and themes, but Ahmadi handles them all with care and writes a deeply genuine, hopeful and hilarious book.
laylavreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
3.5
lovelylilpill's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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
3.5
heiparra's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
Nipple story scarred me
The drama towards the end is 😘🤌
STORY IS BETTER THAN LOVE SIMON
The drama towards the end is 😘🤌
STORY IS BETTER THAN LOVE SIMON
allyreadabook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jpluff2334's review
3.5
I enjoyed this but the whole Italy extravaganza as a teenager and meeting the right people there in such a short amount of time seemed incredibly unrealistic. However, it is loosely based on a trip the author took, so maybe I am wrong. This addresses important topics in relation to the intersections of Amir's identities including being Iranian and Gay. It has a large theme of stereotyping Muslims on airplanes and part of the story is told through interviews in interrogation rooms.
hakberdi's review against another edition
5.0
A gay Muslim book? Gimme!
Respectfully, fuck all the people saying that this book is not about a Muslim gay kid simply because his family are not practicing Muslims.
Thing is, coming from a family of non-practicing muslims (except my dad — he’s is, but I don’t care, honestly) and from a Muslim country I still have to suffer and live with customs, practices that I don’t share anything with, simply because “we don’t do that/we don’t support that, we’re muslims” my entire life.
Denying that Islam influences and takes part in culture of the Islamic countries, its citizens and their families is so oblivious and out of touch!
About the book: it’s just plain fun. It’s in no way a five star book at all, but I just… connected with it? The times I laughed out loud, cringed, cried — ah, I devoured it so fast and I want more!
Respectfully, fuck all the people saying that this book is not about a Muslim gay kid simply because his family are not practicing Muslims.
Thing is, coming from a family of non-practicing muslims (except my dad — he’s is, but I don’t care, honestly) and from a Muslim country I still have to suffer and live with customs, practices that I don’t share anything with, simply because “we don’t do that/we don’t support that, we’re muslims” my entire life.
Denying that Islam influences and takes part in culture of the Islamic countries, its citizens and their families is so oblivious and out of touch!
About the book: it’s just plain fun. It’s in no way a five star book at all, but I just… connected with it? The times I laughed out loud, cringed, cried — ah, I devoured it so fast and I want more!
stopthesun's review against another edition
4.0
With a few exceptions, I loved almost everything about [b:How It All Blew Up|49690160|How It All Blew Up|Arvin Ahmadi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590133997l/49690160._SY75_.jpg|74196146]. I don't know exactly how to articulate my feelings, so I will just say this: I don't want to be quiet anymore either.
Warnings for.
A few quotes that hit me:
I wish I could say I was better than that, that I ignored the stereotype, but when your safety hinges on a stereotype being true or not, you don't get to be brave.
My dad put on a video from when I was six. Soraya was just a baby, and in it, I was inspecting her face, her cheeks. Then suddenly she hiccupped and cried. My parents laughed. "Aww, jigari," a weird term of endearment that means "liver."
It made me wonder if we owe our parents that kind of simple, unfiltered happiness for the rest of our lives. Why couldn't they find our hiccups now as cute as they were back then? Who had changed--them or me?
It's hard enough living one life; no one should have to go through the trouble of living two.
Warnings for
Spoiler
Bullying & Blackmail, Homophobia, Sex (between an adult and someone just barely not a minor), Detainment, Islamophobia, and a really gross story about a nippleA few quotes that hit me:
I wish I could say I was better than that, that I ignored the stereotype, but when your safety hinges on a stereotype being true or not, you don't get to be brave.
My dad put on a video from when I was six. Soraya was just a baby, and in it, I was inspecting her face, her cheeks. Then suddenly she hiccupped and cried. My parents laughed. "Aww, jigari," a weird term of endearment that means "liver."
It made me wonder if we owe our parents that kind of simple, unfiltered happiness for the rest of our lives. Why couldn't they find our hiccups now as cute as they were back then? Who had changed--them or me?
It's hard enough living one life; no one should have to go through the trouble of living two.