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luvey_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism
vagaybond's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Car accident, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Bullying, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
Minor: Racism and Classism
The protagonist's abusive father (who was/is a cop) chased the protagonist and his mother in a car, bumping the fender multiple times and driving the two of them off a cliff. The protagonist was 7 and was disabled by it, both with a leg issue and with PTSD triggered once in the book, by driving at night.imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Cursing, Violence, Homophobia, Bullying, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Outing, Racism, Medical content, and Deadnaming
fanboyriot's review
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Racism, Car accident, Child abuse, and Homophobia
nthnrgb's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
dododenise's review
- 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
4.5
I flew through this book and somehow listened to it all in one go. The pacing is quick and I it was so easy to keep going.
This book takes an interesting approach by making the main character the bully. I was apprehensive at first, but the character and his story swept me away. Wes proves that everyone deserves compassion and to be seen as a human being. He goes through a tough journey and learns a lot from it. He is deeply troubled (I hate that word but it's the best word I can come up with to describe him) and that carries throughout the entire story. Yes, I might hate him for a few things he does in this book, but I always understand him. That is most important. I could understand him and the struggles he is going through. It made him a deeply interesting character who was there to tell an important story.
This also carried to the other characters in this book. They did not feel empty. The book is short, so there is not a lot of time to get to know them that well, but I still enjoyed them and was interested in everything the story gave me.
The book deals masterfully with how boys are taught to not express any emotion other than anger. And the consequences of that. Wes struggles with anger and aggression. It is one of the main themes in the book. It is upsetting to see what kind of person society and its pressures shaped him into. He is a bully because of this. He ruins his relationships because of this. It impacts every part of his life and seeing him deal with that part of himself and starting to heal was so impactful. Wes still has a long road ahead of him, that much is clear, but he can get there.
Tristan is a wonderful love interest. The contrast of a ballet dancer to Wes's skater punk is delightful. They're beautifully awkward together and yet they fit so well. Can I say for sure that they will last? Maybe not. But they give each other so much. They have chemistry and make each other into better people, which is exactly what I want to see in a romance story.
This book is both a simple romance as well as an important analysis of Wes, what made him who he is and how he can grow. It finds the perfect balance between the two, making this an immensely enjoyable book!
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism
katiechasingchapters'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
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Bullying
Minor: Racism