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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I had a hard time getting into it at first, but WHOA the second half really hits you.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ahhhhhhhh this book made me cry my eyes out. It's so fully realized and beautifully done
Okay, to kick this review off, here's a list of trigger warnings for the book, most of which will also come up in this review. There's also spoilers ahead, about half the review is hidden since in order to discuss the problems I have to bring up the answers to the family mystery, etc.
TWs: transphobia (dead naming, misgendering, etc.), homophobia (forced outing, the f word), slut shaming, verbal abuse and off page physical abuse (it's mentioned in passing). Also tacking on a warning for rape/dubious consent to be safe.
Okay, now that that's out of the way, I just want to say that I firmly believe that the creators meant well with their representation. It doesn't excuse it or make alright, but it's something I thought I'd mention.
I picked up Kiss Number 8 on a whim, not really knowing what it was about, and honestly, halfway through it I still wasn't sure. I've seen reviews saying that it had been pitched as a rom-com, and that's definitely not the case, it doesn't even really match up to the synopsis on the back.
Once I read the synopsis, instead of getting what I thought was going to be a coming out story about a girl who had a crush on her best friend, I got an overcrowded plot about: family secrets, family relationships, abuse, bad friendships, transphobia, homophobia and a dash of religion. Oh, and somewhere in there we were supposed to have the main character, Mads, have a crush on her best friend. Who I thought was Laura based off of the start, but was actually Cat. Literally, there was almost no sign of Mads having a romantic interest in Cat until things picked up towards the end, and even then, it came out of nowhere.
Cat herself was a terrible character, though she was written that way. The main thing I had issues with is that they made the prominent character of color a bunch of stereotypes. They decided to make her fat and aggressive, give her giant hoops earrings and have her gossip about everyone. It was done in poor taste and on top of it she was into dating, so people referred to her as a slut.
Late into the story more characters of color became important, but it Cat's portrayal that really bothered me since she was such a main character.
✨SPOILER TIME✨
When Mads' father finally opens up about what's been going on, he vilifies Sam, misgendering and dead naming him repeatedly in the process. Throughout the story, Sam is mocked, laughed at, and continually misgendered. The point was to show people's bigotry, but there was literally no growth from them at the end of the novel, and there's no reason to repeatedly do that, especially in a YA novel.
Mads' paternal (cis) grandfather is also abusive, verbally to her father, and most likely both with Sam, since he sent him to the hospital from injuries. Yet another mistreatment of a trans character. I understand that the story takes place in 2004 and that when Sam transitioned it was even earlier than that, but there were so many harmful things said and done in this book to trans characters without consequence or in ways that mattered to the story.
Next up, we have the rampant homophobia throughout the story, even before Mads gets outed. Once that happens, she loses her relationship with her father (until the very end), her friends, gets bullied and eventually transfers schools. At the new school, someone uses the f word as an insult and by the end of the novel it was just kind of exhausting.
There was also a scene in here that made me super uncomfortable, which is why I put the rape/non-con warning earlier. Mads' ends up at a party with a guy who has a crush on her (idk his name anymore) and to prove that she isn't interested in girls, she kisses him and then tells him to have sex with her in another room. He asks her if it's okay and she says yes, but she's so obviously not okay with it that it's non-consensual.
Ultimately Kiss Number 8 had a happy ending (seriously, the last 4-5 pages were done SO WELL I cried) and nice art, but the story had so many problems it made it something I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Which is a shame, because it could have had potential.
TWs: transphobia (dead naming, misgendering, etc.), homophobia (forced outing, the f word), slut shaming, verbal abuse and off page physical abuse (it's mentioned in passing). Also tacking on a warning for rape/dubious consent to be safe.
Okay, now that that's out of the way, I just want to say that I firmly believe that the creators meant well with their representation. It doesn't excuse it or make alright, but it's something I thought I'd mention.
I picked up Kiss Number 8 on a whim, not really knowing what it was about, and honestly, halfway through it I still wasn't sure. I've seen reviews saying that it had been pitched as a rom-com, and that's definitely not the case, it doesn't even really match up to the synopsis on the back.
Once I read the synopsis, instead of getting what I thought was going to be a coming out story about a girl who had a crush on her best friend, I got an overcrowded plot about: family secrets, family relationships, abuse, bad friendships, transphobia, homophobia and a dash of religion. Oh, and somewhere in there we were supposed to have the main character, Mads, have a crush on her best friend. Who I thought was Laura based off of the start, but was actually Cat. Literally, there was almost no sign of Mads having a romantic interest in Cat until things picked up towards the end, and even then, it came out of nowhere.
Cat herself was a terrible character, though she was written that way. The main thing I had issues with is that they made the prominent character of color a bunch of stereotypes. They decided to make her fat and aggressive, give her giant hoops earrings and have her gossip about everyone. It was done in poor taste and on top of it she was into dating, so people referred to her as a slut.
Late into the story more characters of color became important, but it Cat's portrayal that really bothered me since she was such a main character.
✨SPOILER TIME✨
Spoiler
The big family mystery for this book is about who called the main character's father, and how she thought he had cheated until it became apparent that he didn't. Instead, it turns out that his trans father, Sam, passed away, which is where things get ugly.When Mads' father finally opens up about what's been going on, he vilifies Sam, misgendering and dead naming him repeatedly in the process. Throughout the story, Sam is mocked, laughed at, and continually misgendered. The point was to show people's bigotry, but there was literally no growth from them at the end of the novel, and there's no reason to repeatedly do that, especially in a YA novel.
Mads' paternal (cis) grandfather is also abusive, verbally to her father, and most likely both with Sam, since he sent him to the hospital from injuries. Yet another mistreatment of a trans character. I understand that the story takes place in 2004 and that when Sam transitioned it was even earlier than that, but there were so many harmful things said and done in this book to trans characters without consequence or in ways that mattered to the story.
Next up, we have the rampant homophobia throughout the story, even before Mads gets outed. Once that happens, she loses her relationship with her father (until the very end), her friends, gets bullied and eventually transfers schools. At the new school, someone uses the f word as an insult and by the end of the novel it was just kind of exhausting.
There was also a scene in here that made me super uncomfortable, which is why I put the rape/non-con warning earlier. Mads' ends up at a party with a guy who has a crush on her (idk his name anymore) and to prove that she isn't interested in girls, she kisses him and then tells him to have sex with her in another room. He asks her if it's okay and she says yes, but she's so obviously not okay with it that it's non-consensual.
Ultimately Kiss Number 8 had a happy ending (seriously, the last 4-5 pages were done SO WELL I cried) and nice art, but the story had so many problems it made it something I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Which is a shame, because it could have had potential.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked this story by the end as it taught some important lessons about finding yourself and your family. Additionally, this had a different perspective on LGBTQ stories than what I've seen before, which felt more realistic to the world today.
I felt that it took a bit to get this story going, but part of that was purposeful as our MC doesn't entirely know what they want from life.
I do wish there had been some more color to the graphics as it was difficult for me to keep track of characters in just black and white, particularly in cases where their face is not straight on in the frame.
I felt that it took a bit to get this story going, but part of that was purposeful as our MC doesn't entirely know what they want from life.
I do wish there had been some more color to the graphics as it was difficult for me to keep track of characters in just black and white, particularly in cases where their face is not straight on in the frame.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
I can’t do with the transphobia. It goes too unchecked too often and it’s not fun to read tbh.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book is great! It was complicated and funny and messy and nuanced—just like humans (especially teenagers)! I really enjoyed watching Amanda’s journey.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, this dragged. And the rampant and blatant homophobia and transphobia made it a really hard read. I liked the premise of the story, and definitely think it’s an important one too tell (and it’s cool to see trans rep but the way they did it WASNT IT) but I think they just tied it too easily up in a bow at the end and didn’t make any of the characters think about their actions or unpack anything.
The art style was fun, well drawn, and so expressive which I really enjoyed. I’ve only just started reading graphic novels so i struggled a bit to see all the underlying things that were happening as my eyes are used to skimming words rather than looking deeply at each page but I definitely liked the way it showed unreliable narrators!
Idk, something about it left me feeling a bit icky about it which is why my rating is so low.
The art style was fun, well drawn, and so expressive which I really enjoyed. I’ve only just started reading graphic novels so i struggled a bit to see all the underlying things that were happening as my eyes are used to skimming words rather than looking deeply at each page but I definitely liked the way it showed unreliable narrators!
Idk, something about it left me feeling a bit icky about it which is why my rating is so low.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story broke and mended my heart. How is everyone NOT talking about this book still? It's a masterpiece. I could not put it down.