You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
First book of 2019 and I loved it!!!! I am going to add his other books to my to read someday shelf. Love the characters he Konigsberg creates. They are so imperfect that they are perfect. They are flaws people with real problems that you want to hug and make better!
I've read this when I was seventeen, starting college, and exploring my sexuality. So of course, I've loved this so much I gave this a 5-star rating.
But now as a disillusioned (half kidding) 23-year old, out of college and a current corporate slave, and fairly settled with my sexuality, I saw, of course, the not-so politically correct minor details in the book. I also saw how the narrator Rafe was annoying and self-centered and create problems for himself that can be solved easily. But that's being a high school student for you.
In spite of all these, I still found bits and parts of the book that I liked...which were mostly included Ben. I enjoyed the almost instantaneous jump from “No, he's just a friend” to “Oh, no, I do love him more than a friend” which was typical when you're (fake) closeted and had an insanely attractive straight best friend. I should know. I've been there. Lastly, I enjoyed that Konigsberg decided NOT to give Rafe and Ben the fairy tale ending where everything was forgiven and forgotten despite the intensity and immensity of the fault to the other person. Instead, he gave an adult semi-conclusion to the two boys which felt very right. Not every YA book can say they've done that. Many would force a sweet conclusion, compromising the real process of apologies and forgiving.
In the end, this book is charming as hell and it exudes an intelligence, especially with that ending, that I appreciated a lot.
But now as a disillusioned (half kidding) 23-year old, out of college and a current corporate slave, and fairly settled with my sexuality, I saw, of course, the not-so politically correct minor details in the book. I also saw how the narrator Rafe was annoying and self-centered and create problems for himself that can be solved easily. But that's being a high school student for you.
In spite of all these, I still found bits and parts of the book that I liked...which were mostly included Ben. I enjoyed the almost instantaneous jump from “No, he's just a friend” to “Oh, no, I do love him more than a friend” which was typical when you're (fake) closeted and had an insanely attractive straight best friend. I should know. I've been there. Lastly, I enjoyed that Konigsberg decided NOT to give Rafe and Ben the fairy tale ending where everything was forgiven and forgotten despite the intensity and immensity of the fault to the other person. Instead, he gave an adult semi-conclusion to the two boys which felt very right. Not every YA book can say they've done that. Many would force a sweet conclusion, compromising the real process of apologies and forgiving.
In the end, this book is charming as hell and it exudes an intelligence, especially with that ending, that I appreciated a lot.
Primero tengo que decir que necesito leer el segundo, y eso ya es algo bueno porque quiere decir que conecté con la historia y me gustó.
Es un libro muy para leer desde la subjetividad porque a cada persona le afectaría o se identificaría con cosas distintas, esto siempre pasa pero lo viví más particularmente con esta historia, porque plantea ciertas preguntas sobre la identidad, las etiquetas, como vemos a los demás y a nosotrxs mismxs. Entonces creo que todxs resolveríamos eso de forma distinta o tendríamos otras respuestas en base a lo que vivimos. Por eso nos identificamos con un personaje u otro. Es algo que rescato, que presente personajes con distintas vivencias y realidades, porque además fe identificarte podes ver distintas formas de ver un mismo asunto y llegar a una conclusión propia.
Además de ser distintos, en tan pocas páginas los personajes toman mucha importancia, logramos conocer a varios aunque los enfoquemos más en Rafe. Toby, albie, Ben, Claire Olivia.
Solo hubieron algunos detalles de cómo trataba ciertos asuntos con las etiquetas y así, pero más allá de eso fue disfrutable.
Lo recomiendo mucho y vale la pena darle una oportunidad
Es un libro muy para leer desde la subjetividad porque a cada persona le afectaría o se identificaría con cosas distintas, esto siempre pasa pero lo viví más particularmente con esta historia, porque plantea ciertas preguntas sobre la identidad, las etiquetas, como vemos a los demás y a nosotrxs mismxs. Entonces creo que todxs resolveríamos eso de forma distinta o tendríamos otras respuestas en base a lo que vivimos. Por eso nos identificamos con un personaje u otro. Es algo que rescato, que presente personajes con distintas vivencias y realidades, porque además fe identificarte podes ver distintas formas de ver un mismo asunto y llegar a una conclusión propia.
Además de ser distintos, en tan pocas páginas los personajes toman mucha importancia, logramos conocer a varios aunque los enfoquemos más en Rafe. Toby, albie, Ben, Claire Olivia.
Solo hubieron algunos detalles de cómo trataba ciertos asuntos con las etiquetas y así, pero más allá de eso fue disfrutable.
Lo recomiendo mucho y vale la pena darle una oportunidad
Not me finishing this at like 11:56 pm on New Year’s Eve. An ok book to finish of the year, I have so many thoughts about it though. (I started this book thanksgiving weekend, so you can tell I kept putting it off)
4.5 The discussion of labels in this book is so good it got me thinking about my label. I was shocked the book ended the way it was because usually it ends in a tragic or happy ending. I understand why it ended the way it did though. My fave character probably goes to Toby!
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't too sure on the "so accepted I need to get out of here" storyline, it didn't seem too plausible, but I pushed on.
I was upset Rafe wasn't still into sports nor remained friends with any of the (other) soccer guys by the end of the book, and that he was so judgey of people around him.
I didn't like how Ben and Rafe got together- Ben was intoxicated, and though it was sort of clear by the writing that he wasn't drunk enough not to know what he was doing, I would have preferred them both to be sober for their first time.
And finally, I like my happy endings and this one was sort of bittersweet. If they had ended up together-even if on shaky terms- maybe I would have been able to forgive more stuff. As is, I don't think I'm invested enough to be buying a second book for something that should have been resolved on the first one...
This was a cute YA book. I was intrigued by its exploration of identity and the repercussions of hiding one’s identity. I also thought using the teacher’s writing guidance for Rafe was an interesting way to develop the plot.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes