Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves

10 reviews

_bookish_lauren's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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? No

5.0

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Biphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Xenophobia

jurgbury's review

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Racism

anniekayefic's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness

Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, and Alcohol

litoreads's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

annamay1021's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Biphobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Mental illness

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

kabes0919's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

A well written book featuring a cast of loveable characters and strong emotional experiences.
The author is very talented, writing just about every character to be someone I feel I’ve met before, and delving into morality & perception of character very well. Quique’s internal monologue is very teenager, and while I can’t relate to his exact experiences the way the symptoms of his mental illnesses presented was incredibly realistic. 
The plot was relatively simple, the classic friends-to-lovers trope being the biggest influence on the story, but it was well paced and incorporated the subplots seamlessly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Biphobia and Sexual content

Minor: Xenophobia, Racism, and Homophobia

fourofclubs's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring

• 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? Yes

2.0

This book is not what I expected it to be. You should definitely look up the trigger warnings before you go into it cause it start with a lot more serious subject matter than I expected which I didn’t mind but I wish I knew before going in. Dix book is also very very sexual and definitely hyper sexualizes The bisexual main character which I really disliked. He literally hits on his 31 year old teacher. I think this book could be good for someone who needs help processing their coming out journey but I also think that it leans into stereotypes that I don’t necessarily agree with. The last sentence of the book is amazing but I feel like some of the writing is kind of immature. The entire plot of the book is the main character having sexual thoughts about other people and the main love interest his friend. It’s just not my thing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Racism, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Sexual content, and Biphobia

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Mental illness

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Ableism, Biphobia, Islamophobia, Vomit, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Excrement, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Grief, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia

patricktreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.25

This book was everything. It gave me “They Both Die” vibes without both of them dying. That intensity was there and the pain was definitely felt, but also the joy. I also loved that we had the middle eastern representation. You don’t get to see that a lot in LGBTQ+ stories. 

It should definitely have content warnings in it though because some of the topics can get very dark. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Racism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail