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orenjiiii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use and Violence
prehistoricpotatoes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
hyperballadbybjork's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia
rynaissanceenby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I also felt that a lot of interpersonal relationships felt unrealistic, but this might be a product of my relatively sheltered upbringing. At several points I found myself thinking, "This is ridiculous, nobody would ever get into a physical fight over this" or thoughts along those same lines, but the reality is that I don't understand why anyone would get into a physical altercation over just about anything. So maybe that's just my white suburbia upbringing talking.
Finally, I found the sci-fi-ish premise to be really dissatisfying. We were simultaneously given too many and too few details in order for me to sustain my disbelief. The basic idea is that Lateo can bury specific memories for you, but the idea that memories rarely resurface even with the triggers of being in familiar surroundings where the original memories happened is just a bit too far fetched for me. The pacing of this part of the narrative was a bit odd too. Lateo was hardly mentioned at all in the first half of the book, and it was absolutely crucial to the second half of the book. I think a little more foreshadowing would have done this book well.
All that being said, I considered DNFing this one, but it did get better in the second half, so I think it was worth my time. Especially since it was an audiobook, so I listened to it while cooking.
On that note, I felt that the choice of audiobook narrator was questionable. This story is told from the perspective of teenagers, and having a middle-aged dude narrate it...did not sound right. Furthermore, the voices the narrator did for the different characters were spotty. I was expecting to be able to tell who was talking from the different sorts of cadences and accents he was giving the different characters, but, especially when two characters were having a back and forth dialogue, their voices started blurring together and it go difficult to tell them apart.
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Racism
reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
The book contains the novel in five parts and 43 chapters as well as the author's note and acknowledgements.
The plot of this novel is pretty straight forward in my opinion, but takes some unexpected turns throughout itself. Following Aaron, the main character, we get to read about his struggles as a teenager, his personal trauma, depression and him finding his place in society. We also get to experience him coming to terms with his own identity, which is the main story line.
I liked this story very much. It was neither too fast-paced nor too slow-paced. I thought this was also a very relateble story for me personally, not in all parts but in some. On another note, this was also very cutesy sometimes, which made my heart bloom!
The characters in this novel are very different from each other. There Were many I liked, but also many I did not like and I think it is a great thing to actually malle characters unlikeable.
They also were unique from on another and I loved seeing all the different personalities interact with each other. Relationships between them were also very interesting and unique between each other.
Oh, and about representation in this: We have a latinx main character and side character as well as a gay main character and other non-heterosexual side characters. Personally I found the gay representation executed very well and not problematic in the least. I won't comment on other representation because I do not think it is my right to do so.
If you want more intel on any other rep, I am sure you will find it on here.
If you know me, you know that I am a huge fan of Silvera's writing style. I just think there is something to it that lets you take a look inside the minds of the different characters and let yourself be immersed in the story. It is also very easy to read and understand.
However, I do have to say that it was also very cringey at some points.
All summed up, I can recommend this book with a good conscious!
And if you do plan to read this please do not Forget to check the trigger warnings.
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
kataleena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
vespertyne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
malenaa14's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence
bendersreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Drug use and Toxic friendship
aforgetfulreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Addiction