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ritammds's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
stefhyena's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I was disappointed because I enjoyed the first one so much and this had potential to add to that (I thought). I wanted to know more about Ari's brother for example and that was one of the disappointing parts.
This book is too long and tries too hard to be wise and philosophical so that it just ends up dripping with sentiment and repeating itself a lot. To me all the characters now sound the same (I didn't find that so much with the first one). For the first fifth of the book I was trying to say "oh but it's worthwhile, oh but we need queer books) but it was too hard to ignore how bored I was and how much it repeated.
Then also it put women on a pedestal and it tries to call that "feminism" and it really isn't...because all they want to do in the book is cook, be beautiful and emotionally care for people (mainly men). Even though there are a lot of gay men in the book (good) there is not a single queer woman anywhere in it. Characters are so black and white and individual choice is responsible for characters being good or bad. There's a suburban "learn to love your neighbours" theme that is heavily pushed. Just about every character cries because something is supposedly so "meaningful" only as a reader it doesn't feel that way. I feel more show don't tell was needed for some of it, less heavy-handed.
Just....over 500 pages of this? Really???
This book is too long and tries too hard to be wise and philosophical so that it just ends up dripping with sentiment and repeating itself a lot. To me all the characters now sound the same (I didn't find that so much with the first one). For the first fifth of the book I was trying to say "oh but it's worthwhile, oh but we need queer books) but it was too hard to ignore how bored I was and how much it repeated.
Then also it put women on a pedestal and it tries to call that "feminism" and it really isn't...because all they want to do in the book is cook, be beautiful and emotionally care for people (mainly men). Even though there are a lot of gay men in the book (good) there is not a single queer woman anywhere in it. Characters are so black and white and individual choice is responsible for characters being good or bad. There's a suburban "learn to love your neighbours" theme that is heavily pushed. Just about every character cries because something is supposedly so "meaningful" only as a reader it doesn't feel that way. I feel more show don't tell was needed for some of it, less heavy-handed.
Just....over 500 pages of this? Really???
overkill_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
cherrythepie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
bookwarmm's review against another edition
5.0
Just wow! I am unable to put into words how i feel about this book and it all began just three weeks ago (I think) when my friend bought this book and i decided to finally read the first one. Soon after she finished reading this book and i finished reading the first, she gave her copy to me and now I'm sitting here having finished this incredible reading journey (feeling quite out of words) and i have to say i am in love with Ari and i am also in love with Benjamin Alire Sáenz... and i do not know what else to say but thank you Sydney and thank you Benjamin!
ezrasupremacy's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
look, i really wanted to enjoy this, i went in *expecting* to enjoy this because i know i loved book one when i read it some time between six and eight years ago, and i’m sure i would’ve liked this book too had i read it when i was a teenager, but reading this at 21 felt like torture.
the only part i liked was the information about the aids pandemic, because as someone who’s far removed from that time it’s very interesting to read the perspective of someone who was there.
that aside i have to admit that my tastes just changed, and my first hurdle was that i hate the writing style and i hate first person narrators. my second hurdle was that every single comment made about growing up and mental health (related) stuff made me roll my eyes. if i had read this when i was a depressed teen on tumblr i’m sure i would’ve gained something from it, but as someone who’s been through years of therapy and healing it all just fell very flat. literally not a single one of the emotional scenes made me feel anything other than detachment.
and that aside, the plot - why the fuck did we have the first like 40% be about their summer break and then in the last 30 pages they break up and get back together? i was actually shaking my head at that point because i was like, how the fuck is this happening now.
sorry to everyone who loved this book i’m glad you enjoyed it, i genuinely wish i had too
look, i really wanted to enjoy this, i went in *expecting* to enjoy this because i know i loved book one when i read it some time between six and eight years ago, and i’m sure i would’ve liked this book too had i read it when i was a teenager, but reading this at 21 felt like torture.
the only part i liked was the information about the aids pandemic, because as someone who’s far removed from that time it’s very interesting to read the perspective of someone who was there.
that aside i have to admit that my tastes just changed, and my first hurdle was that i hate the writing style and i hate first person narrators. my second hurdle was that every single comment made about growing up and mental health (related) stuff made me roll my eyes. if i had read this when i was a depressed teen on tumblr i’m sure i would’ve gained something from it, but as someone who’s been through years of therapy and healing it all just fell very flat. literally not a single one of the emotional scenes made me feel anything other than detachment.
and that aside, the plot - why the fuck did we have the first like 40% be about their summer break and then in the last 30 pages they break up and get back together? i was actually shaking my head at that point because i was like, how the fuck is this happening now.
sorry to everyone who loved this book i’m glad you enjoyed it, i genuinely wish i had too
isobel04's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5