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elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Julian Winters should be required reading. His stories - both beautifully written and integral to the modern literary canon - find relevance and significance in readers of all ages. Winters writes books for people before they know they need them (like me!) and for people looking for a piece of themselves in fiction separate from tragedy and tokenism (also like me). Extraordinary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
unepassiondesmots's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
It was really sweet and I loved the reflexions about finding who you are, with lots of goofy things and fun that makes it lighter even if the main themes are quite deep
michaelbereading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Remy Cameron is gay, Black, super-likeable, and seemingly confident to everyone around him, but Remy doesn't really know himself. When he needs to write a college entrance essay about himself, he struggles to put into words exactly who he is as he reflects on his intersectionality and sorts through all the labels that have defined him in.
I enjoyed every second of this story. Julian Winters somehow magically wrote a queer story that is light and engaging and not weighed down in trauma experiences, while also weaving in introspection and depth. It is a delicate balance to make these things happen simultaneously but it was done perfectly here. The characters were beautiful and layered the conflict was minimal but not boring. This was my first book by this author, but I am running to read another one soon!
I enjoyed every second of this story. Julian Winters somehow magically wrote a queer story that is light and engaging and not weighed down in trauma experiences, while also weaving in introspection and depth. It is a delicate balance to make these things happen simultaneously but it was done perfectly here. The characters were beautiful and layered the conflict was minimal but not boring. This was my first book by this author, but I am running to read another one soon!
achilleanshelves's review against another edition
4.0
This entire book felt like a First Act and that's both to its benefit and hindrance. The characters are all amazing, as I expected after reading Running with Lions, especially Remy himself, Ian, Willow, Jayden and Silver (Who deserves his own book).
It felt at some points like the central story was forgotten and little advancement was made for long periods of time, however, it was fluffy and cute and exactly what my heart required.
(Very minor spoiler)
- Jayden being a cheer-leader who is bisexual and comfortable in both his sexuality and his gender and Chloe being a quarterback really hits different.
It felt at some points like the central story was forgotten and little advancement was made for long periods of time, however, it was fluffy and cute and exactly what my heart required.
(Very minor spoiler)
- Jayden being a cheer-leader who is bisexual and comfortable in both his sexuality and his gender and Chloe being a quarterback really hits different.
jacehan's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning was fairly dull, but after the author stops introducing new characters and places and starts letting the story develop, it picks up. (About 40% of the way through.) Perhaps, at a metatextual level, this makes sense - the narrator Remy is focusing so much on surface descriptions because that's what he's struggling with in terms of his own identity and labels, and when he starts to push past that it gets more interesting. So it makes sense, but doesn't make it interesting to read.
shewwimonster's review against another edition
5.0
I hear second novels can be beasts to write, but Remy is perfect and Winters is perfect and I need MORE. For a simple look at the story, it's about coping with the labels people give you, the labels you give yourself, and who you actually *are.* It's also incredibly queer. I'm drastically outside of the target audience here, but there was still so much to connect with. And I feel like Winters writes real, relatable characters with their own layers and personality and shine. Remy is also extremely likable. Even when he's over-the-top or sticking his foot in his mouth.
An unexpected and welcome addition? The way some talk about consent is worked in.
I love everything that's happening here. I think I might have written this at the end of my Lions review, but I still can't wait to see what Winters does next.
An unexpected and welcome addition? The way some talk about consent is worked in.
I love everything that's happening here. I think I might have written this at the end of my Lions review, but I still can't wait to see what Winters does next.
briannareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This book was cute and fun and didn't take me long to read! It took me three days to get like 15% into it because I was not that interested in first. But then I really dived in and finished the last 85% in an afternoon. It was nice, but not one of my favourite books.
I'll start off with some things I wasn't a fan of. First, there were so many characters that I couldn't keep up with. I still didn't remember the differences between some of Remy's best friends and I just let it go. Another thing was so much of the conversation and Remy's thoughts were cringe-y. I kind of got over that too and thought that maybe it was just Remy's personality and not the writing? It was also a tad predictable at times. There were two major plot points I saw coming that didn't really surprise me. The Mad Tagger plot was useless to me, it seemed to mainly be there for the sole purpose of giving the characters something to talk about other than Remy's boy drama. Lastly, while I think the discussion of labels in this story is important to people who don't really like to fit under a label, as someone who loves labels and labelling myself as things because they bring comfort and security, I couldn't connect with Remy's struggle of trying to deflect all the labels people were throwing at him.
But there were lots of things I really liked! For one, it was the diversity of the cast of characters. I will admit that when the ~diverse~ characters were introduced, it seemed that Julian Winters tried not to make it a big deal. But then it ended up seeming like a big deal and a little forced. Besides that cringe-y introduction of all the characters in Remy's friend group, the rest of the characters and their lives/races/sexualities were pretty subtle. This was pretty realistic to me as someone who went to a majorly racially and sexually diverse high school. It was very common for people of different races and sexualities to be out and open. Also, I LOVED REMY. He was so cool, I would love to be friends with him. His life and intersections were very interesting to me and I think he's just a great person. His relationship with Ian was very wholesome to me and the way they explored coming out, sex, talking, and their relationship in general with such patience and care was so beautiful!
Overall, this book was just okay but I know it will touch many people. I'm interested in reading Running with Lions now, though!
This book was cute and fun and didn't take me long to read! It took me three days to get like 15% into it because I was not that interested in first. But then I really dived in and finished the last 85% in an afternoon. It was nice, but not one of my favourite books.
I'll start off with some things I wasn't a fan of. First, there were so many characters that I couldn't keep up with. I still didn't remember the differences between some of Remy's best friends and I just let it go. Another thing was so much of the conversation and Remy's thoughts were cringe-y. I kind of got over that too and thought that maybe it was just Remy's personality and not the writing? It was also a tad predictable at times. There were two major plot points I saw coming that didn't really surprise me. The Mad Tagger plot was useless to me, it seemed to mainly be there for the sole purpose of giving the characters something to talk about other than Remy's boy drama. Lastly, while I think the discussion of labels in this story is important to people who don't really like to fit under a label, as someone who loves labels and labelling myself as things because they bring comfort and security, I couldn't connect with Remy's struggle of trying to deflect all the labels people were throwing at him.
But there were lots of things I really liked! For one, it was the diversity of the cast of characters. I will admit that when the ~diverse~ characters were introduced, it seemed that Julian Winters tried not to make it a big deal. But then it ended up seeming like a big deal and a little forced. Besides that cringe-y introduction of all the characters in Remy's friend group, the rest of the characters and their lives/races/sexualities were pretty subtle. This was pretty realistic to me as someone who went to a majorly racially and sexually diverse high school. It was very common for people of different races and sexualities to be out and open. Also, I LOVED REMY. He was so cool, I would love to be friends with him. His life and intersections were very interesting to me and I think he's just a great person. His relationship with Ian was very wholesome to me and the way they explored coming out, sex, talking, and their relationship in general with such patience and care was so beautiful!
Overall, this book was just okay but I know it will touch many people. I'm interested in reading Running with Lions now, though!
arielbianca's review against another edition
4.0
Protect Remy Cameron at all costs!
Full Review on my blog: https://astoldbyariel.com/how-to-be-remy-cameron-review/
Full Review on my blog: https://astoldbyariel.com/how-to-be-remy-cameron-review/
drlisak's review against another edition
5.0
Fabulous read! If I could give it more stars, I would.
Something that draws me into any book is the inexplicable magic of almost poetic prose, strong characterization, and a sense of universality--the feeling that this story could be about me. No, I'm not black. I'm not gay. I'm not adopted. I am the mother of a 17-year-old. But, the desire to understand oneself beyond the labels that people place on me rings so true to me. I think that is part of the appeal of YA literature to adults in general, we've all had some version of these experiences, so we understand them at a visceral level. However, this is even more that that. Remy's journey speaks to the lost soul inside of each of us--the person who simply wants to understand love, life, where they are, and where they are heading.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Something that draws me into any book is the inexplicable magic of almost poetic prose, strong characterization, and a sense of universality--the feeling that this story could be about me. No, I'm not black. I'm not gay. I'm not adopted. I am the mother of a 17-year-old. But, the desire to understand oneself beyond the labels that people place on me rings so true to me. I think that is part of the appeal of YA literature to adults in general, we've all had some version of these experiences, so we understand them at a visceral level. However, this is even more that that. Remy's journey speaks to the lost soul inside of each of us--the person who simply wants to understand love, life, where they are, and where they are heading.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.