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deb_prosp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
A lovely fast-paced read you can finish in one sitting. A wonderfully crafted queer, coming-of-age story that gives you hope for the future of Australian literature.
bangerz's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a wonderful story about being 17, realising your queer and navigating the realities of that. In this instances those realities happen to involve racism in Australia. Overall it’s just a sweet story that will help so many young people.
Lost one star for the threat of misogyny as young men speak about a women as if she is property throughout. These characters made some huge internal shifts but can’t get past thinking a girl belongs to one man because he had her first. The only thing out of place for me in the story. Can’t wait to read Gary’s next book!
Lost one star for the threat of misogyny as young men speak about a women as if she is property throughout. These characters made some huge internal shifts but can’t get past thinking a girl belongs to one man because he had her first. The only thing out of place for me in the story. Can’t wait to read Gary’s next book!
through_my_eyes81's review against another edition
5.0
Great story for young people who are trying to make some sense of their own identity.
kaiserlich's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
easyvisionary's review against another edition
5.0
Eeeek! This was absolutely gorgeous!!! I’ve been wanting to read this for so long! When I saw it on the shelf at the library today I just knew it was gonna be a good day!
I love the characters! I love the story! I love my boys! Thank you!
I love the characters! I love the story! I love my boys! Thank you!
dcgirlie2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
murderpigeonsgobump's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was solid and all of the coming to terms with sexuality stuff was realistic with a cute romance. My only issue was pretty much everything they did in this book was go to parties and get drunk, which is personally my worst nightmare and I just didn’t really connect with it at all. But very much a me being weird problem.
dliterate's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so glad that I finally got to this book, which I listened to as an audiobook narrated by Meyne Wyatt.
I feel like there's always a bit of a danger going into a YA romance that I'm either going to be overwhelmed by the sickly sweetness of it, or uncomfortable with the spiciness of it. Thankfully, I can say in this case that I didn't have to feel either of these things, because while the book definitely did address the topic of aex, it did so in a way that was very thoughtful.
Really, 'thoughtful' is a word I could apply to the whole book. While fictional, it was clearly coming from a place of personal experience, and that came through in how it reflected on experiences of the discovery and exploration of sexuality shaped by the fear of being rejected by family and community if what you're doing is discovered. Particularly when, as young Indigenous people, those connections are so strongly tied to one's sense of cultural and individual identity.
While the relationship between the main characters, Jackson and Tomas, is obviously a key component of the story, I also appreciate that we get a decent sense of who they both are as individuals. They both have their own personalities, experiences and sense of connection to community that shape them as people; and we also learn about some of Jackson's experiences with racism as he interacts with his non-Indigenous peers as well. Again, a lot of thought was put into creating real characters who exist in and have to navigate the complexities of the real world.
Anyway, that's enough gushing.
I feel like there's always a bit of a danger going into a YA romance that I'm either going to be overwhelmed by the sickly sweetness of it, or uncomfortable with the spiciness of it. Thankfully, I can say in this case that I didn't have to feel either of these things, because while the book definitely did address the topic of aex, it did so in a way that was very thoughtful.
Really, 'thoughtful' is a word I could apply to the whole book. While fictional, it was clearly coming from a place of personal experience, and that came through in how it reflected on experiences of the discovery and exploration of sexuality shaped by the fear of being rejected by family and community if what you're doing is discovered. Particularly when, as young Indigenous people, those connections are so strongly tied to one's sense of cultural and individual identity.
While the relationship between the main characters, Jackson and Tomas, is obviously a key component of the story, I also appreciate that we get a decent sense of who they both are as individuals. They both have their own personalities, experiences and sense of connection to community that shape them as people; and we also learn about some of Jackson's experiences with racism as he interacts with his non-Indigenous peers as well. Again, a lot of thought was put into creating real characters who exist in and have to navigate the complexities of the real world.
Anyway, that's enough gushing.
barbarab's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
dragon_s_hoard's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Racism, and Violence