Scan barcode
jayaremarshall's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at page 134, this book is so bland and it drags on and on. Still holding out hope for the authors other books!
thebookishmel's review against another edition
4.0
no one talk to me dis shit was so cute
okay - lets get it together now. THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN. However, there are some serious trigger warnings including discussions of racism, homophobia, past minor characters' death, and alcoholism, as well as depictions of homophobic bullying, and a scene involving brief sexual harassment/racial fetishism (copied straight from the book). BUT I think Winters does a PHENOMENAL job at addressing all of them in a digestible way.
If you're a fan of The Edge of Seventeen and Heartstopper, I think this is the perfect blend of both and I'll tell you why - it's such a fun coming of age story answering the overarching question of "who am I?" but specifically, "Who is Remy Cameron?"
Struck by varying identities and labels that he has found himself lumped under, it's really understanding that he is an amalgamation [SAT prep ;) - iykyk] of all of these identities to becoming exactly who he is now, with all of the heartbreak and trauma, as well as the great times, great family, and celebration. Seeing how his relationship with Ian Park grows into something so beautiful is what reminds me of Nick and Charlie from the Heartstopper comics!
I think we also see a hint of Winters writing himself in the book in the messages his characters tell Remy. Particularly, a conversation between him and Brook stands out to me as a way for him to almost break the fourth wall, and though I'm all for subtleties, this even hit me - and it didn't even APPLY to me or my life.
I was able to fall in love with Remy as he fell back in love with himself, and I think that's one of the most valuable aspects of this book and I'm SO glad to have read it.
okay - lets get it together now. THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN. However, there are some serious trigger warnings including discussions of racism, homophobia, past minor characters' death, and alcoholism, as well as depictions of homophobic bullying, and a scene involving brief sexual harassment/racial fetishism (copied straight from the book). BUT I think Winters does a PHENOMENAL job at addressing all of them in a digestible way.
If you're a fan of The Edge of Seventeen and Heartstopper, I think this is the perfect blend of both and I'll tell you why - it's such a fun coming of age story answering the overarching question of "who am I?" but specifically, "Who is Remy Cameron?"
Struck by varying identities and labels that he has found himself lumped under, it's really understanding that he is an amalgamation [SAT prep ;) - iykyk] of all of these identities to becoming exactly who he is now, with all of the heartbreak and trauma, as well as the great times, great family, and celebration. Seeing how his relationship with Ian Park grows into something so beautiful is what reminds me of Nick and Charlie from the Heartstopper comics!
I think we also see a hint of Winters writing himself in the book in the messages his characters tell Remy. Particularly, a conversation between him and Brook stands out to me as a way for him to almost break the fourth wall, and though I'm all for subtleties, this even hit me - and it didn't even APPLY to me or my life.
I was able to fall in love with Remy as he fell back in love with himself, and I think that's one of the most valuable aspects of this book and I'm SO glad to have read it.
adammm's review against another edition
5.0
It has taken me just about 3.5 months but I have finally finished How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters, and it is quite possibly one of the best YA novels I've read this year. A brief summary: Seventeen-year-old Remy is in that nebulous stage of adolescence where the labels he uses to describe himself - gay, Black, adopted - don't seem to fit. When his AP English teacher assigns an assignment instructing his class to write and present about themselves, he is thrown for a loop. Family, friend, and school-related shenanigans ensue.
I started HTBRC immediately after completing my first book by author Winters, the very strong As You Walk On By. Grad school, a brief obsession with zombies, and various personal issues led to my setting Remy aside for several months, having read only the first three chapters. A few days ago I decided to read all the books on my "currently reading" bookshelf and here I am, regretting that I didn't just finish the book months ago.
This is an incredible book. Remy reads like an authentic teenage boy struggling to figure out his place in his family, his friend group, and in school. This is by no means a plot-driven story; instead, it is highly introspective, following Remy through roughly a month in his life during his junior year of high school. But don't take the introspective nature of this novel as a sign that it is dull: Winter manages to keep the pace steady, expertly doling out events such as the search for the "Mad Tagger," an unusual graffiti artist; revelations related to family; and shifting crushes and relationships, all in an impressive manner. For a second book, this is truly excellent writing.
There are a number of reasons why this book hits so hard, but I think what stands out to me is the discussion of labels. As a teenager labels are of utmost importance: am I gay or straight or bi or pan or what? Am I a boy or a girl or a bit of both or neither? Am I popular or a nerd? Am I a STEM person or a language person? Am I too fat or too skinny? Am I smart or dumb? Is so-and-so my best friend? Am I theirs? This book does a terrific job of discussing the nuance of trying to fit into the labels we give ourselves, as well as the ones others assign to us. Remy's path towards understanding his own positionality is extremely compelling, both understated yet heart-warming. As I read the final page I found myself tearing up, which is highly unusual as I am an emotionless monster full of toxic masculinity. So yeah, this is good stuff, y'all.
Needless to say, I highly recommend How to Be Remy Cameron and I very enthusiastically look forward to reading more books by Julian Winters. Recommended if you're looking for extremely diverse YA; books where every single character has a compelling arc; discussions of labels; characters featuring intersectional identities; complicated families.
I started HTBRC immediately after completing my first book by author Winters, the very strong As You Walk On By. Grad school, a brief obsession with zombies, and various personal issues led to my setting Remy aside for several months, having read only the first three chapters. A few days ago I decided to read all the books on my "currently reading" bookshelf and here I am, regretting that I didn't just finish the book months ago.
This is an incredible book. Remy reads like an authentic teenage boy struggling to figure out his place in his family, his friend group, and in school. This is by no means a plot-driven story; instead, it is highly introspective, following Remy through roughly a month in his life during his junior year of high school. But don't take the introspective nature of this novel as a sign that it is dull: Winter manages to keep the pace steady, expertly doling out events such as the search for the "Mad Tagger," an unusual graffiti artist; revelations related to family; and shifting crushes and relationships, all in an impressive manner. For a second book, this is truly excellent writing.
There are a number of reasons why this book hits so hard, but I think what stands out to me is the discussion of labels. As a teenager labels are of utmost importance: am I gay or straight or bi or pan or what? Am I a boy or a girl or a bit of both or neither? Am I popular or a nerd? Am I a STEM person or a language person? Am I too fat or too skinny? Am I smart or dumb? Is so-and-so my best friend? Am I theirs? This book does a terrific job of discussing the nuance of trying to fit into the labels we give ourselves, as well as the ones others assign to us. Remy's path towards understanding his own positionality is extremely compelling, both understated yet heart-warming. As I read the final page I found myself tearing up, which is highly unusual as I am an emotionless monster full of toxic masculinity. So yeah, this is good stuff, y'all.
Needless to say, I highly recommend How to Be Remy Cameron and I very enthusiastically look forward to reading more books by Julian Winters. Recommended if you're looking for extremely diverse YA; books where every single character has a compelling arc; discussions of labels; characters featuring intersectional identities; complicated families.
rashmi's review
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
5.0
babytloves2read's review against another edition
5.0
I love all the themes this book explored: race, sexuality, adoption, uncertainty, beautiful friendships. This was a breath of fresh air from all the queer-tragedy storylines that plague the genre. I love Remy, I love Ian, I love Free, I love Brook, I love Mom and Dad and Willow. Wow. What a beautiful book.
misterintensity's review against another edition
4.0
There are a few truths about Remy: he’s black, adopted, gay, and he recently had his heartbroken. He’s pretty sure who is but when given an AP Literature assignment to write about himself, he starts to wonder if he’s just defined by labels. Also there’s a new guy who thinks he’s cute. This is a funny, earnest book about someone trying to figure out who he is for himself not for others. The characters are likeable and there are quite a few funny moments in the book. Besides the essay, Remy has to contend with a new boy he’s crushing on but he has sworn off dating and his crush is not ready to be out; a best friend whose obsession with learning the identity of a mysterious graffiti artist is affecting their friendship; and he learns something about his life that is shocking. Told from Remy’s point of view, the narrative may not feel earth shaking but it feels that way to him, which is of course the case for any teenager. Highly recommended for readers of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager and Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
nolemdaer's review against another edition
2.0
I read Julian Winters's sophomore novel recently, and while I wasn't impressed, there wasn't anything particularly "bad" with it. It was simply mediocre.
Nominally, the book is about the eponymous character Remy Cameron discovering who he is beyond the labels people (and he) have placed on him. In reality, it was somewhat less gripping.
First, I was a little thrown off immediately because I thought this book had a college setting. I was wrong; it was more typical high school fare. Second, while I did think the author has improved somewhat in terms of characterization and narration, I still found the writing plagued by tell-not-show, especially when it comes to character relationships. When introduced to the main character's (rather large and inconsequential) group of friends, it felt like we were speed dating or swiping through Tinder—we're given a name, ethnicity, sexuality, and a label or two that neatly sums the character up. The narration utilized the quick and easy labels that this book was supposed to cast aside rather than giving us any actual insight into how the peripheral characters act or interact.
Perhaps most heinously, I felt no "journey" at all. The entire premise of the story is Remy Cameron discovering who he is and rejecting his labels, but either that didn't happen or it was so vague and anticlimactic that it passed me by. Maybe the reason tell-not-show is used so much because any attempt at conveying messages without outright stating them would be ineffective.
And the characters weren't even likable! Most of that reason is because we barely get to meet to understand any character without the main character rattling off ten fast facts about them every time we see them, but a lot of them just seemed odd. The main character's parents, for example, were supposed to be "cool parents" but ended up weird and inappropriate.
In general, I'd say HTBRC shows improvement from Running with Lions (especially due to the less-isolated setting), but there's still plenty of room to improve.
P.S. I forgot to put the romance into this review at all, which should tell you how invested I was in it.
Nominally, the book is about the eponymous character Remy Cameron discovering who he is beyond the labels people (and he) have placed on him. In reality, it was somewhat less gripping.
First, I was a little thrown off immediately because I thought this book had a college setting. I was wrong; it was more typical high school fare. Second, while I did think the author has improved somewhat in terms of characterization and narration, I still found the writing plagued by tell-not-show, especially when it comes to character relationships. When introduced to the main character's (rather large and inconsequential) group of friends, it felt like we were speed dating or swiping through Tinder—we're given a name, ethnicity, sexuality, and a label or two that neatly sums the character up. The narration utilized the quick and easy labels that this book was supposed to cast aside rather than giving us any actual insight into how the peripheral characters act or interact.
Perhaps most heinously, I felt no "journey" at all. The entire premise of the story is Remy Cameron discovering who he is and rejecting his labels, but either that didn't happen or it was so vague and anticlimactic that it passed me by. Maybe the reason tell-not-show is used so much because any attempt at conveying messages without outright stating them would be ineffective.
And the characters weren't even likable! Most of that reason is because we barely get to meet to understand any character without the main character rattling off ten fast facts about them every time we see them, but a lot of them just seemed odd. The main character's parents, for example, were supposed to be "cool parents" but ended up weird and inappropriate.
In general, I'd say HTBRC shows improvement from Running with Lions (especially due to the less-isolated setting), but there's still plenty of room to improve.
P.S. I forgot to put the romance into this review at all, which should tell you how invested I was in it.