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mxfahrenheit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming and Vomit
wendywplager's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
sarahholliday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think this book is beautiful (particularly the last section), and a very compelling story at its heart.
That being said, it's also a case of "just not for me." I am big fan of inner monologue & introspective characters, and that's not what this story is focused on. This is a story of the space that's left when we don't say what we're thinking or express what we're feeling. It's a story of action & doing, not pondering.
I was prepared for this to be a solid 3-star read (in terms of my own personal taste), and then I read the final section and sort of fell in love with the book as a whole. So if you do read it, and think it isn't for you, I highly recommend sticking it out.
That being said, it's also a case of "just not for me." I am big fan of inner monologue & introspective characters, and that's not what this story is focused on. This is a story of the space that's left when we don't say what we're thinking or express what we're feeling. It's a story of action & doing, not pondering.
I was prepared for this to be a solid 3-star read (in terms of my own personal taste), and then I read the final section and sort of fell in love with the book as a whole. So if you do read it, and think it isn't for you, I highly recommend sticking it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racial slurs
mayasophia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The biggest compliment that I can give this book is that while I was marathoning the last 100 pages, I was so immersed in the story that I wasn't thinking about *gestures broadly at everything*.
This is definitely a slow burn of a novel, what it endeavors to do it doesn't reveal until the last 1/3 of it, but once I was in it, I was very in it. It even got a tear out of me. The greatest strength of this book is the characters. They are fully realized and quite unique to literature. The two main characters are Benson and Mike and their relationship is troubled, but it's also fairly long lasting and so there's an underlying tension of them being unhappy, but also comfortable. Benson is Black and Mike is Japanese and the conversations that they have and the observations that Washington makes about race, as it pertains to both individuals and interracial relationships, are nuanced and interesting.
The story begins with Mike learning that his estranged father is dying in Japan and that is mother is coming to stay with him and Benson, and Mike leaves to go see his father before he dies, leaving Benson with his mother, who he has never met before. Neither man is fully out to his parents and what could have been a farcical situation ends up being a really thoughtful and meaningful exploration of family, the intersection of sexuality, race, culture, and age, and what it means to be in a long term relationship.
The writing was very intentional and I thought the way it was structured, though at first a bit confusing to me, was actually very intelligently done. I loved how when the author switched perspectives, he didn't tell the exact same story just from the other man's point of view, but there were moments when it circled back around to a shared moment that had already been experienced by the other character. I thought that the way that Washington built context around those shared moments was incredibly thoughtful and made for a wonderful reading experience.
This is definitely a slow burn of a novel, what it endeavors to do it doesn't reveal until the last 1/3 of it, but once I was in it, I was very in it. It even got a tear out of me. The greatest strength of this book is the characters. They are fully realized and quite unique to literature. The two main characters are Benson and Mike and their relationship is troubled, but it's also fairly long lasting and so there's an underlying tension of them being unhappy, but also comfortable. Benson is Black and Mike is Japanese and the conversations that they have and the observations that Washington makes about race, as it pertains to both individuals and interracial relationships, are nuanced and interesting.
The story begins with Mike learning that his estranged father is dying in Japan and that is mother is coming to stay with him and Benson, and Mike leaves to go see his father before he dies, leaving Benson with his mother, who he has never met before. Neither man is fully out to his parents and what could have been a farcical situation ends up being a really thoughtful and meaningful exploration of family, the intersection of sexuality, race, culture, and age, and what it means to be in a long term relationship.
The writing was very intentional and I thought the way it was structured, though at first a bit confusing to me, was actually very intelligently done. I loved how when the author switched perspectives, he didn't tell the exact same story just from the other man's point of view, but there were moments when it circled back around to a shared moment that had already been experienced by the other character. I thought that the way that Washington built context around those shared moments was incredibly thoughtful and made for a wonderful reading experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
lexa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It took a little while to get into the groove of this book. It flashes back and forth between memories and present day. But once I hit about halfway, it had captivated me with its everyday beauty and pain. One of those stories where nothing happens but also so much happens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Homophobia
Minor: Medical content and Vomit
wai's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is so tender and beautiful and there are not enough words to explain or describe it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Police brutality, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Vomit
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks to Riverhead Books for the free advance copy of this book.
β¨MINI REVIEWβ¨
What I liked:
π The prose is clear and delicate
π A close look at the complicated relationships we have with our parents as adults
π I've never been to Houston, but I could feel the city in this book
π Not all queer relationships are happy and safe, and as painful as Mike and Benson's relationship sometimes was, I'm glad the queer canon is broadening
β’
What I didn't like:
π Speaking of painful relationship, I do wish the characters had acknowledged the mutual abuse a little more directly. It would have been a very different book, then, though
β’
Content warnings: domestic abuse, cancer, death, racism, homophobia. π
β¨MINI REVIEWβ¨
What I liked:
π The prose is clear and delicate
π A close look at the complicated relationships we have with our parents as adults
π I've never been to Houston, but I could feel the city in this book
π Not all queer relationships are happy and safe, and as painful as Mike and Benson's relationship sometimes was, I'm glad the queer canon is broadening
β’
What I didn't like:
π Speaking of painful relationship, I do wish the characters had acknowledged the mutual abuse a little more directly. It would have been a very different book, then, though
β’
Content warnings: domestic abuse, cancer, death, racism, homophobia. π
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
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