Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves

7 reviews

its_vendetta's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted sad 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? Yes

4.75

Ugh this book was so good i’m so upset that it’s over!! This book hit me in ways others didn’t. Enrique‘s descriptions of his mental health and his insecurities surrounding himself in comparison to other queer people around him is so relatable it hurts. The discussion around biphobia was especially personal to me as well, and was done perfectly. 
All the side characters were so incredibly well written!! I had an emotional attachment to everyone in this book and I honestly did not know how this book would end, which I loved!
Overall this is an amazing and touching novel that dives into issues surrounding queer communities, racism, religious bigotry, and so many more topics that need to be more discussed in our society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Hate crime, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Islamophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Drug use

the f slur is used quite often in the book. it’s used both from queer people and from non queer people in a derogatory context

skye_era_books's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

3.0

This was a really great story about 17-year-old Quique who is exploring his bisexuality while also navigating the fact that he’s in love with his best friend. It’s hard for queer people to be together in general, but adding in the fact that they’re both boys of color (Quique is Mexican-American and Saleem is Palestinian). But I will say I feel like this book was a bit too explicit to be considered YA? This had some very graphic sex scenes considering this is a YA book 😅 I personally feel uncomfy reading sex scenes involving anyone under 18.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Hate crime, Violence, and Biphobia

xandry's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Violence, and Hate crime

Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, and Religious bigotry

tkhenry99's review against another edition

3.0

3 stars is probably generous

the writing is really weird and cringey a lot of the time. there are random scenes that almost make it feel like the author is tackling too much (like when quique reflects on his “dad bod” for the first time, or the accidentally arranging a hook up with a teacher thing, or the crazy/psycho commentary). 

the way quique repeatedly outs several characters was also just. not it. and for some reason randomly reflects on how he doesn’t want to out someone in the middle? as if he hadn’t been doing that all along? 

also, quique probably should’ve been ✨institutionalized✨ for suicidal ideation with a plan…. multiple times….. especially at the end…..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Hate crime, and Alcohol

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, Racism, Biphobia, and Outing

wenwanzhao's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This is the kind of awkward, raw, and somehow still lighthearted queer YA novel I don’t think we could’ve gotten a few years ago. What I found most attractive about This Is Why They Hate Us was the premise, the harem concept just isn’t used enough, even though it has a lot of potential. I think this book really accomplished what it set out to do, and I found myself pretty attached to Quique by the end (despite him being a 16 year old mess). Yes, I did find it a bit difficult to get into, and I have grown enough to cringe at how teenagers think, but I think TIWTHU is a worthy YA read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Mental illness, Homophobia, Alcohol, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

mal_bookedatfirstsight's review against another edition

4.5

This book will likely make you uncomfortable at parts 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, and Violence

shamelesslyash's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I wanted 2(!) years for this book. When I first saw Aaron's tweet about it I was sold. I loved that he doesn't shy away from how confusing sexuality, life, everything can be. It's hard trying to figure yourself out! I liked how this was a slow burn and things weren't all pretty and happy and turns out ok in the end. It takes time, mistakes, and learning about yourself before what you want can happen.

This was such a beautiful and at times heartbreaking read. I love that we get to know Enrique and not just his love life, but the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would highly recommend this.


(Also thank you Aaron for saying how bad Call me By Your Name is!!! Seriously it's wrong on so many levels!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Hate crime