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illgiveyouahint'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
I really love Neil as a character. I like that despite being so careful and running on survival for so long, there's this thread of oh he wants people to care for him and wants to have somewhere to call home and wants to have friends and just wants to stop running and have a life. And it's not too pronounced since his issues are too big (especially at the start of it) to allow too much of it, but it's there.
I really enjoy Wymack and Neil's relationship. I mean Wymack is fun with all the Foxes 'cause he's just the tired older fatherly figure to them, but he's just so goddamn tired of Neil's whole thing. Like you can tell that at any given moment he just wants to scream at the kid "Let me love you and care for you and give you home and safety, you goddamn idiot!"
Also the slowburn of Andrew and Neil is also fun of course. Like you don't realise it on the first read but it's so clear on the second read how much Neil is focused on Andrew. And not just because Andrew causes him most trouble in the first part of the book, but he's already so attuned to Andrew.
The Neil and Kevin relationship is an interesting one. Kevin being so determined to make Neil into a champion but having only the Raven's way of leadership to go on, Neil on one hand wanting it so bad but on the other hand knowing it can never be.
Oh, and I'm also taking note of the Kevin & Andrew relationship that is fascinating in a different way. Kevin knows where to push Neil but he knows he can't move Andrew unless he gives him good enough incentive.
Point is there's a lot of good dynamics to look at.
With all of that being said, there's some issues I am gonna continue being uncomfortable with. The villains of the books being Japanese is just :// Nicky's 'I'm gonna flirt with any boy within vicinity" also bothers me a lot 'cause it's such a stereotype. I'm not sure about how the portrayal of Andrew's psychological problems and the effect of his medication is making me feel.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Suicide
Minor: Car accident, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Outing, Rape, and Toxic relationship
natnat_7'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Ableism, Grief, Violence, Homophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Medical content, Self harm, Sexism, Misogyny, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Car accident, and Vomit
ronoexiste's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Car accident, Misogyny, and Sexism
stargazing'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: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
justreaditem'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think Coach is my favourite character. Although I feel like he's constantly pinching his nose in exasperation at all these delinquent boys, he cares so much about them all despite his words, he's there for each and every one of them.
There's much LGBTQ+ representation in this book but it's not in your face. You also have mental health, crime, family and team work.
Each character was honest and different in every way, including the girls on the team. They weren't weak or meek. And the BANTER! Oh my days, I found myself laughing out loud constantly.
Don't get me wrong, a lot of it was unrealistic. I mean, somehow they're part of a gang or something? But all in all, it's a good read. I can't wait to finish the series off.
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
fthepatriarchy's review against another edition
5.0
okay first off i have 0 interest in sport. absolutely none. i’m only reading this for the characters. i like neil but his absolute lack of humour annoys me. make a joke. just one. please.
it’s actually a good book though, it has a lot of triggers + i put as many as i can think of but probably google the rest.
the writing style’s really matter-of-fact? like there’s little to no description but honestly i really like it.
the coach calling everyone the r slur is not appreciated though ☹️ everyone in this book is so aggressive. i actually weirdly like andrew? maybe just because i’ve struggled w similar problems but if he’d tone down the scary aggression then i’d like him.
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Ableism, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, and Physical abuse
reading_addicts_anonymous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use
Moderate: Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, and Homophobia
jbellomy's review against another edition
2.5
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EDIT DEC 2023
I did it. I read the unhinged fake lacrosse yakuza book. Someone on tumblr said this is a sports anime in book form and it clicked (particularly the psychotic love interest, who speaks and behaves like one of the twins from Ouran). I don't know if I like it exactly but it is for sure entertaining. Check those content warnings -- impossible for it to not be entertaining.
Graphic: Drug use, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Alcohol, Suicide, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization