babyleo's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75


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pkc's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I fell in love with Ari and Dante when they set out to discover the secrets of the universe and I had measured hopes here. I’ve been burned when it comes to sequels that weren’t necessarily pre-planned and how they treat their characters and advance their story. This was equally wrenching and beautiful. There’s a fair amount of tragedy, and framing it in the context of the height it the AIDS pandemic grounded it in some much needed (albeit sobering) realism. This book is accessibly esoteric - grand thoughts that everyone can relate to but might not have the words to give context and light to. I certainly wouldn’t have the words or ability. The story ends definitively, but do I want a third instalment? You bet your sweet bippy I do.

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vael's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • 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

Benjamin writes poetry. I’m convinced he puts a lot of his soul in this pages, I’m always going to be grateful for the opportunity to read his words, his vision of the world.

This was a sad book. A book about love. And I could not stop crying while reading 

One time my best friend hold my hand after picking me from work, he told me how wonderful it was to do that without others staring at you with hateful eyes.
He was the one that gifted me this book.  I Could not stop thinking about that while reading, oh how I wish I could gift him a better world in exchange.

This book will always be in my heart as much as the first one. So many word are in my heart right now  

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angietheace's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • 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


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hds's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It wasn't as good as the first one and I felt like some of the dialogue was written solely to make it into a nice quote than to add to the characters/story.
HOWEVER, I enjoyed every second of it and I love these characters and they made me cry. It was nice to see Ari develop throughout the two books and even though I sometimes missed Dante I LOVED Ari's new friends. 
I don't think this sequel existing necessary improves the story as a whole, but it was nice to be able to revisit these characters.

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ronan900's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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

3.25


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jasmineslibraryy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

almost DNF'd, really glad i didn't 

this sequel was kinda unnecessary in my opinion but it was beautiful. ari has one of the most beautiful character arcs i've ever read. the first one is still miles better but i still thoroughly enjoyed this!

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lennie_reads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • 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

Thank you to Netgalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Books UK for this ARC. 

Full disclosure - I waited so long to read the arc that I read the finished printed version. 

I was so so happy when Saenz annoucned that we had a sequel to the first book. 
Whilst I i love the first one, after a re-read it reminded me that we really don't see much of happy Ari or Ari & Dante actually together. And we only experience things through Ari's narrow and unreliable lens. 

Despite the books being written 10 years apart, Saenz seems to be able to dive immediately back into Ari's head so it genuinely doesn't feel like any time has passed from book 1 to book 2. (Pun not intended but I'm keeping it!) 

In this book we see a much happier Ari who is finally accepting himself and accepting love from his friends, family and Dante. 
Although the two still have to navigate rampant homophobia during the AIDS pandemic, racism and the more 'usual' teenage struggles of college and a possible long distance relationship. 

This book also seems to delve into different types of relationships, different types of love, and how they're all important in their own ways. 

I love the way Saenz write: it just flows so well whilst also being so poignant and beautiful. 

This book also confirmed my theory of Ari being demisexual. It doesn't say it anywhere explicitly but istg he is the most demisexual coded character ever. 

If you loved the first book then you 100% should read this one. It'll give you the more fleshed out HFN whilst also getting to know the characters more, especially now that Ari's perspectives have been opened up so his perceptions of people are more 3D.

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finnsnotfinished's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75


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stephanieswilley's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75


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