Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

371 reviews

swiftpool's review

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

3.5

Super cute and an easy read. June adds so much more depth to the story compared to the movie. Her character also lends depth to Ellen and the different ways she treats each child. I even at one point predicted June would, as a journalist, out her brother due to being jealous of the love and attention he receives. Instead we got a living older sister self sacrificing parts of her own life to be there for him, from giving up her relationship to leaking photos of her and Henry to dispel rumors around Alex and Henry. Her flirtation with Nora and Percy was also super cute, funny, and ambiguous, letting Alex and Henry take the spotlight. Seeing Nora being feral in the background of scenes was cute. Even Leo adds a tumultuous family relationship to the story the movie doesn’t have. Liam, too, adds a lot to Alex’s story and self reflection. I was glad he came back into his life as a friend - and after seeing the movie, them biking to Alex’s house makes much more sense with Liam around. The only real cons I have were with Nora handled Alex coming out, and the scene where Alex barges into the palace. Honestly I didn’t love how Nora takes Alex coming out to her. Just because she’s queer and already guessed, doesn’t mean she should be so …. up front about it? Especially because even though we see her as logical and clinical, she is also said to be his best friend, and who he goes to for everything even above his sister. It felt like she was pushing him off, like, “yeah so what?”, despite coming to terms with sexuality being big and scary to Alex despite knowing he’d be accepted. As for the palace scene, it’s not that big of a gripe because it was very much written like a real fight - I just don’t happen to love Henry’s character in the moment. And they do, in the morning, clear up that he was an ass. But Henry lashing out at Alex despite being the one to fall first, kiss him first, and then ghost him multiple times and expect Alex to just accept that? Annoying. Definitely could use more communication skills. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Minor: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Cursing, Addiction, and Alcohol

eyescanbecruel's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Racism, Grief, Cancer, Homophobia, Death of parent, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Drug abuse

dandeliongirl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Outing

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Addiction

Minor: Stalking, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Sexual violence

erikagibson126's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Bullying, Alcohol, Biphobia, Grief, Outing, Sexual assault, Cursing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Sexism, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Misogyny

ladythana's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Bullying

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Classism, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Racism, Biphobia, Religious bigotry, and Panic attacks/disorders

lahziesmann's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Outing, and Cursing

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Addiction, Incest, Classism, Genocide, Racism, Gun violence, Colonisation, Pedophilia, and Slavery

katialena's review

funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Cancer, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Drug abuse

emilywemily6's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The banter and chemistry was great! I also loved the political background of both these characters. This version of the US is idealistic and nice to see. I liked the character depth and diversity too! Lots of lines made me laugh out loud too. I wish there weren’t so many sex scenes and swearing; the book would have been not quite as long lol. It just felt like the middle of the book was just them being thirsty. This book moved fast at the beginning, but around halfway through I didn’t know where the book was heading because of the pacing and the endless sex scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed this book though! A quintessential LGBTQIA+ romcom.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Bullying, Sexual content, and Biphobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Mental illness

Minor: Racism, Misogyny, and Slavery

itsdiane's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content

sarahflanders's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Outing, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, and Drug use