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haylzno's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm not one to ever guess "plot twists" and I definitely didn't foresee any of this plot. I loved that most of the novel was told through Moths POV and only switched to Sani at the end. The characters were relatable and it really provoked many emotions (again, the audiobook was just fantastic. I listened to it while paining and had to take quite a few breaks to wipe away some tears).
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Violence
ladygetslit'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
Graphic: Car accident and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts'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? It's complicated
5.0
This novel in a span of 3 hours had so much heartache, passion, first love, tragedy, emotion and everything in-between. But that plot twist at the end completely shook my world and felt bittersweet. Moth is such a loving character whom I wanted to encase in a protective bubble. I adore both her and Sani's relationship.
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Blood, Death, Drug use, Bullying, Car accident, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
bookishcori's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness and Racism
aargot1's review against another edition
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Medical content, and Medical trauma
mangolover72's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
oldandnewbooksmell'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? No
4.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
thesaltiestlibrarian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
...which you the readers are probably not gonna like very much.
Okay...
Listen.
Rating an OwnVoices book low has absolutely no reflection on me as a person. Anyone with their hackles up can take a deep breath. Merely glimpse at my shelves and tell me I don't read widely or think hard enough about things.
As a work of written story, this book was objectively disappointing.
As a work of crafting sentences, this book was a gilded piece of art.
McBride clearly knows how to string words together. Even when the plot went way out somewhere North of "Huh??" I stuck around for the way these sentences were carefully constructed. The probability for me coming back to McBride's work in future books is 99%. "Only 99, Caitlin?! You're insensitive!"
No. I'm leery.
The main characters showed up. Within two pages of reading them, I physically set aside my Kindle and said, "Oh no." Whenever Moth or Sani spoke, I had the distinct feeling I somehow found my way into a John Green novel. Teenagers just don't talk in abstract pseudo-philosophical compound thoughts. Would they write in their journals that way? Absolutely! Even I did, once upon a time. But I don't think I've ever once heard a teenager spew words like a second-year philosophy major who's favorite thought-master is Nietzsche.
The character writing needs work. A lot of work. Sani sauntered onto the scene with his best "wounded badboy cliche" skinsuit on, and Moth was no better in her instalove "hee hee it's so cute that this boy I don't know calls me honey" romper. And anyone with eyeballs--functioning or no--could see the reveal coming.
I just...I wanted to love this book. It has all of the elements that I gravitate towards in anything, from picture books to la-dee-dah literature. It just fell flat. I know I'm in the minority here. Part of me wonders if the five-stars read the same book as I did.
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts