Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

20 reviews

captainoliimar's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Medical trauma, Stalking, Racism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Classism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Infidelity, and Sexism

Minor: Genocide, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Deportation

cstein's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

One of the better romance novels I've read! I found the characters lovable and their lives as political and public figures believable. I also appreciated McQuiston's seamless incorporation of queer history.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Outing, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cancer, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Addiction, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Classism, Drug abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

moonheavn's review

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Outing

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Gun violence

nicamooch's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this! The humour & all the character relationships—especially Alex & June’s. Alex and Henry are utter dumbasses but their interactions are so fun to read and their love story is so full of heart 😭. I binged the last half of this after work and was crying for most of it.

Politics-wise the escapist fantasy I think this was intended to be, unfortunately kept dragging me back & reminding me of reality :|

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia

Minor: Addiction, Genocide, Grief, Colonisation, Gun violence, Incest, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault

kjoli's review

emotional funny hopeful 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Biphobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Cancer, and Gun violence

impeachnixon's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Outing, Death of parent, Grief, and Colonisation

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Religious bigotry, Gun violence, and Cancer

longlost's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

"Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that.
History, huh? Bet we could make some.
Affectionately yrs, slowly going insane,
Alex, First Son of Founding Father Sacrilege"

Being that I hate both America and politics with a burning passion, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. However evileviathan my beloved recommended this highly and I trust him with my life so I read it as soon as possible and you know what. This was fun. I didn't understand half the stuff that was going on because of my inability to comprehend politics (ok that's an exaggeration there WERE some bits I couldn't figure out but the majority of it was conveyed really well for me, who is not American and also not knowledgeable in politics in the slightest, to understand) but by god if the gay yearning didn't warm my heart. Enemies to lovers trope my beloved.
While I don't like how many times this book reminded me of my Hamilton phase, everything else? Top tier. I loved reading about not only Alex and Henry, but also June and Nora and Pez and all the other side characters who may not have been as prominent as Alex & Henry were in the story but were enjoyable nonetheless. I just think we need more queer books that play on popular tropes. From Casey McQuiston's acknowledgements page: "What I hoped to do, and what I hope I have done with this book by the time you’ve finished it, my dear reader: to be the spark of joy and hope you needed." For me, this definitely rang true: the tenderness and joy in Alex and Henry's developing relationship; the acknowledgement that sometimes plans and paths change but maybe that change isn't necessarily for the worst; the unfailing support Alex receives from his family. No matter the ups and downs of this story, that central spark of joy and hope remained even if it didn't flicker as brightly in every page. 
I enjoyed reading this book. The loose, upbeat writing style kept me engaged throughout and the clearly defined personalities of both the main characters and the side characters had me turning the page even after I'd decided to stop reading for the moment, because by god I had to know what happened to these guys next. All-in-all, a pleasantly surprising read for me considering this book made its way into my heart despite things that would've turned me away in other books. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

GRAPHIC: Alcohol: There are scenes where the main character + other characters get drunk. Emotional abuse: Henry faces emotional abuse from several members of his family. Homophobia: Alex and Henry face repercussions from

Henry's family and the media

for their relationship. Outing:

Alex and Henry's relationship is outed to the media towards the end of the book.

Sexual content: There a several sex scenes throughout the book. MODERATE: Addiction:

Henry's sister Bea is noted to have been in rehab for a cocaine addiction.

Death of parent: Henry's father dies prior to the story, but it is mentioned in the text on several occasions. Panic attacks / disorders: Both Henry and Alex have at least one scene where they experience a panic attack. Racism: Alex faces racism in places throughout the story. MINOR: Cancer: Henry's father is noted to have passed away from cancer. Drug use: Side characters use drugs on occasion. Gun violence: Early in the book Henry and Alex are warned and hidden from what is believed to be a shooting situation. It is soon revealed that the gunshot sounds were actually fireworks. Sexual assault: Towards the end of the book

Luna tells Alex about how a rival politician attempted to assault him.

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Stalking

elinmln's review

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Medical content, and Gun violence

adel's review

fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Slavery, Stalking, and Vomit