Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - If You Still Recognize Me

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So

28 reviews

emilycrowleyyy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

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emilo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense 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

I had the joy of meeting Cynthia So at the Edinburgh Book Festival and the joy!!! of reading this book!! queerness so effortlessly intersects with gender, culture, fandom and food in this book and i love it. one of the best YAs i’ve read in years. i CANNOT wait to see what they do next!!

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teaskate's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Enjoyed the diversity that is really missing in the current media we are presented with. A lot of people don’t get representation, which is just plain said awful. So I liked to see the representation. Other than that is the message really heart warming and so important. Seeing Elsie grow was pretty great. Thank you :)

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puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

I loved reading about Elsie’s journey. Through looking for her overseas crush’s grandma’s old friend, she meets queer people of different generations and ends up learning more about herself and coming into her own.

And that’s just one story-thread; Elsie is also uncovering her own family secrets, rekindling a relationship with an old friend, dealing with a past toxic relationship, and trying not to neglect her current best friend in the process. All in the summer between graduation and starting uni. Definitely a stand-out in YA queer contemporary!

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vampire_burrito's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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verysillygoose's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.75

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hue's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

My problem was mainly with the narrator. The character itself, Elsie, was very immature for being 18. She read more like a 15/16 year old. The sort of stalky plotline with Ada's grandmother was almost creepy. Elsie didn't seem to care about her friends boundaries nor about their feelings whatsoever. She was selfish and hasty with decisions that didn't involve her at all. It made me really uncomfortable.

The writing left something to be desired. It was meh at best, and the dialogue between characters—both in person and via text messages—was clunky and strange. I don't think anyone speaks like that in real life. It sort of ruined the connections between the characters.

Often I found the story rather overwritten. The plot was predictable, a bit messy and all over the place at times. If it would've focused on a few plot lines rather than so many at the same time (that didn't seem to go anywhere) it could've been a more pleasing reading experience.

I did however like most of the side characters. I adored Ritika (who I would've loved as the main character) and Felix. I also really liked Ada and Joan, but I feel like they could've gotten more character development to be more "realistic" somehow.

I also saw no chemistry between Elsie and Joan, which is unfortunate. It could've been really good.

The representation, and the many colors of the Queer rainbow was extremely nice! I do wish I would've like the story just a little more, but alas.

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