Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe

15 reviews

jayjm94's review

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Hate crime, Fatphobia, and Bullying

hanconcan's review

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As devastating as it is beautiful, the kids are most definitely not alright, but they're surviving. Deeply flawed characters who you can't help but root for as they navigate being othered during high school in the California suburbs. I felt incredibly seen by this book, these characters, this narrative. Can't wait to read Rufi Thorpe's other novels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Blood, Alcoholism, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Vomit and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

cheye13's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"What were you supposed to do with pain but polish it until it became something pointy and pretty?"

This book ruined me, a little bit. In these characters, I saw such visceral glimpses of myself and those I love most – the ways we love, the ways we laugh, the ways we hurt ourselves and each other. This is not a pleasant read, this is not a fun read. But it is so excellently crafted that it blooms into catharsis rather than wilting into misery.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

There is an instance of a traumatic brain injury causing memory problems. There is a lot of reference to prison and the experience of being a prisoner. The rape is conveyed secondhand, through dialogue; it is date rape involving blacking out/lack of memory. It may also be worth noting that Michael lies about his age, so the men he sees aren't aware that he is under legal age.

allzen_nochill's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Hmm. Big hmm. I liked the writing style of this book, plus Michael as an outsider-looking-in narrator to Bunny's story is interesting. But the ending of this felt like we missed some developments, some plot threads. I guess that's realistically what happens when friendships fade, but as a reader of a book I want more. I truly believe that this is Bunny's story, Michael is just our storyteller, and I wanted to know more about how she evolved during their period of non-contact. Big, big, hmm.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Addiction

librarikay's review

challenging reflective tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Violence, Death, and Alcoholism