Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - This Is Why They Hate Us

This was really a phenomenal story. I'd seen it recommend so many times and finally took the chance. I definitely regret waiting so long to read it. There was so much character developments for Enrique, finding himself and exploring his sexuality when all he really wanted was for his best friend Saleem to love him back.

Bisexuality can be a frustrating thing to navigate, especially as a teen. Society tells you you're confused and your fellow LGBTQ members tell you you're just greedy. And bisexual men, so many times, get erased. Told they're really gay. This book deals with external and internal biphobia, but also xenophobia because Saleem is Palestinian.

I loved seeing the progression of Enrique's friendships with both Fabiola and Saleem. They made a great trio of friends once Enrique was able to overcome his fear of what he was hiding from them.

Mental illness is also touch on heavily in this book. Enrique battles suicidal ideations and depressive episodes but takes the necessary steps to work toward bettering himself.

There is diverse representation in this book, and there are multiple queer characters. It's beautiful.

Content Warnings

adamderb's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

5.0

Definitely one of my favorite books to read, the story is great it’s absolutely hilarious!

Content Warnings

jurgbury's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

This is a lovely YA book that I highly recommend but it does have more sexual content than a lot of other YA books. Enrique and Salem are darling characters and I enjoyed following their story over a summer and their relationships with their friends.

Content Warnings

julian7's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

its_vendetta's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

anniekayefic's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

suzreadsalot's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

“So when are you coming home?”

Who gave Aaron the right to make me cry like this. Queer coming of age stories just hit different when you’re a 30 yr old who’s still figuring their ~~shit~~ out apparently.

tldr– I adore everything about this book and you (everyone) should read it and cry with me)

Sometimes it feels like the teens in YA books are polished up to the best versions of themselves but not here. Quique is a chaotic mess. He does messy, teen things. He’s real and unfiltered and it was beautiful.

I’ll never understand how people can say they can’t find anything to relate to in books about people different to them because even though I’m white, it felt like I was looking in a mirror. So many parts of Quique are also parts of me. Growing up in a working, lower class family and dealing with the struggles and mindset that creates. Struggling to find yourself while also measuring yourself up against [literally] everyone you see.
But the most relatable was his struggle with his mental health and learning to recognize when you need to ask for help. It took me a lot longer to figure out than it did for him.

I love how friendships were portrayed and how platonic love with his friends was just as important as his want/need for romantic love and lust.

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to fall in love with Saleem since he isn’t present for a good amount of the book but I did. He showed up and stole my heart.

I do wish we had been able to have a little bit more time with saleem

and be able to see them fall in love a bit more

but that might just be because I love them so much

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