Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

7 reviews

ladykatka's review

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reflective medium-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

3.0

It's ok overall but there are definitely better books out there. For the first half of the book I was convinced this took place on a college campus due to all the alcohol, sex, and parties. During the party chapter I was concerned the soccer team was preying on high school girls when I realized they are high school boys. I was shook because I could have sworn this book took place at a dorm in university. But here we are.

Also, the story goes how you would expect it to. Bad idea blows up in his face. Not ground shattering stuff here. I like Heartstopper way better.

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bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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

3.5


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melongin's review

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funny 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? Yes

4.0

I read this in 3 days after not finishing a book all year. I don't know what it was exactly, but this book had me wrapped up in it. I loved having a gay main character I could relate to. And even the love interest I related to as well.
it broke my heart when Ben was talking about homophobic family. I saw so much of myself in Ben and his struggle so accept himself as LGBTQ

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suckingtentacles's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.0


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sophie42's review

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75


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xeniba's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I enjoyed the story, but there were many offensive and completely unnecessary bits that really knocked it down for me. Despite all that, I was drawn to Ben’s character much more than Rafe’s and am planning on reading Honestly Ben next.

Some of the offensive things I remember: using the words “retarded” and “transgendered”, fatphobia, saying someone with close set eyes potentially looked like someone with a mental disability, a white kid using a bad “Chinese” accent.

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rey_therese07's review against another edition

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

3.5


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