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mkw1lson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Here's the thing - the premise is objectively ridiculous, however, the best thing this book does is just accept that. It's like watching a soap opera - you know it's ridiculous, you know the characters are over the top and the situation is (at minimum) improbable, but the emotional weight still exists. The story is still compelling and the characters are still interesting. Really, the root of this story is a young guy - Neil - who is lost and lonely, and he just wants something to hold on to. After spending so long just surviving, he chooses to live a bit. Remove everything extra, and how deeply relatable is that?
This books greatest strength is definitely in the characters.
That said, this is the weakest book of the series. The pace is a little off and the structure is a bit odd to me. There are characters who I think (?) I'm supposed to like that do awful things, and it's never adequately address to move on from. It also felt very odd to have a mentally ill character skipping their meds as being "sober"...? The book is written from a limited third person POV, unreliable narrator, but it still seems an odd choice.
Still, I enjoyed reading it! It was a quick read and I was engrossed enough by the end of the first book to have already purchased the rest, so I would say it is absolutely worth the read. Heed the warnings though!
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia
lidia138's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Addiction, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Death
westphvl's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Homophobia
m4ximus_pr1m3'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? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Hate crime, Ableism, and Injury/Injury detail
julee_melii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Death
Minor: Blood and Suicide attempt
amoonymess'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Murder, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Stalking, Torture, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Outing
soulsafire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Alcohol, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
malakelgindy's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
restlessparadise's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture and Gore
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Cursing, Ableism, and Religious bigotry
okays1331's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
Minor: Homophobia
Lots of on page drinking and drug use/abuse Lots of anger issues and broken homes for all the students Casual Use of the f slur and r slur (as in used as another swear word, not as part of violence)