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seventhswan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't, though, enjoy this book as much as One Last Stop or Red, White and Royal Blue. Part of this is definitely that I'm not the target demographic for this story and found the high-school friendship dramas grating rather than relatable at this point in my life. Part of it was my frustration with Chloe, the main character - I liked just about every other character better, and found that she didn't get less annoying over the course of the book. And, sadly, part of it was that I feel parts of the plot were so unrealistic as to be dangerously hopeful. I wish it was possible to be nonbinary, date men, wear glitter eyeliner, and still get a full D1 scholarship for college football. I wish it was true that a group of LGBT students could effectively protest a homophobic Christian high school and have the support of the local press, and for the worst result of this to be some mean words and funny looks. Red, White and Royal Blue was just as unrealistic in this regard, but there are far fewer potential First Children in the world than ordinary queer teens in violently homophobic environments, and while the relentless optimism of this book was sweet, I don't feel able to fully endorse it.
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism
sea_sea'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: Cursing, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Outing, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
lunep'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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Biphobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Death, Racism, Infidelity, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, and Alcohol
the_addictt's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia, Cursing, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
- 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
It’s a story of ferocious girls and cinnamon roll boys and yet another iconic group of disaster queer friends, the sort of group Casey excels at writing. It’s a story of teens being messy, teens being teens, in the final moments they have before becoming adults; of all the stages of queerness and trauma and healing and love, of love in so many different forms and expressions. And it’s beautiful. It’s fun, it’s important, and it’s so very beautifully done.
It might not be a book I love with enough fervor to call a favorite, but nonetheless, I know I’ll be thinking about it for some time. Casey’s books tend to have that effect.
Representation:
- bisexual protagonist
- sapphic love interest
- Black gay dyslexic side character
- Black queer nonbinary side character
- Black bisexual side character
- other queer side characters (includes lesbian & nonbinary rep)
- sapphic main couple
- lesbian side couple
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Outing and Alcohol
Contains in-depth discussions of religious bigotry in small towns—relating to homophobia, racism and misogyny—and the religious trauma that stems from it. Also mentions the outing of an adult side character, which occurred prior to the story, and contains one unrelated scene with underage drinking.theuncannydani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
owliglot'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
4.5
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Misogyny, Bullying, and Outing
heather667's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Outing
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Outing, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Bullying, and Classism
lorriss's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gaslighting, Outing, Blood, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, Hate crime, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, Abortion, and Racism