Reviews

When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw

hadenhartwig's review

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

millerj1326's review

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reflective 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? No

4.75

Hauntingly beautiful, a tender exploration of young love and the pain borne from it

megelizabeth's review against another edition

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2.5

I really wanted to love this, but I mostly just felt irritated by it, and, while it was of course very sad, it didn't have as much of an emotional impact on me as I was expecting. It got the 90s vibes and the New York setting spot-on, and I liked the coming-of-age and queer community and resistance elements, but I just couldn't get past how it essentially legitimised predatory grooming relationships, with one being extremely central to the story. The tone was also a bit off and it went back and forth between reading like YA and then really not. Sadly, a really disappointing read overall :(

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joe16210's review against another edition

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5.0

This heavy contemporary mixed with the LGBT topic was just perfect. So far the best book of 2023. Very emotional and very realistic. And definitely a good example of how difficult the life of gay community was back in early 1990s'. Strongly recommended to everyone!

jsncnrd's review against another edition

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5.0

I was stunned by this book and didn't want to put it down. I loved everything about it, and I can be hard to please, lol. I absolutely adored both of these characters. The amount of work that was put into developing them and their storylines is incredible. I loved that it was set in the 90's against the backdrop of NYC and the AIDS epidemic. I've been reading a lot of books with this same setting, and think it is so important for those who did not have to experience the AIDS epidemic (myself included) to have an understanding of it -- of those who suffered while the government stood by.

The trauma that these young boys went through -- at ages 17 / 18 -- was a lot for my heart to handle. The grace with which Ben and Adam handled and processed these traumas was executed flawlessly by Tucker Shaw. This book was a true testament to the resiliency of queer people -- especially queer adolescents, who too often have to grow up far too quickly. Death, grief, hatred, bigotry, and homophobia were central themes that were contrasted by love, family, friendship, passion, and human connection -- a great balance that left me both happy and devastated at numerous points throughout.

I cried on multiple occasions (there is one in specific that involves a backpack), which is always a sign that I have become super invested in what happens to characters. And Tucker Shaw made me care about them. When You Call My Name was a knock-out. I cannot recommend it enough. I am so so so excited to read his future books!

melholmes's review against another edition

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4.0

Why do I read books that make me cry my heart out and then call that a fun hobby?

reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

5.0

claire_melanie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

evieheart's review

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emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

dubious_little_creature's review

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5


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