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readswithnatalieb's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I really liked a lot about this book, but there were also parts that were pretty meh for me.
The story itself? I loved it. I took away so much about how difficult relationships are at any given point in life. Some relationships work, others don’t, but navigating through life while balancing other friendships and situations can make relationships so unique. I found the story to be so raw in that regard.
The diverse representation, an LGBTQIA+ romance, with HIV+ mention created a lot of topics that provoked thoughts. And the story wasn’t tragic or coming out wasn’t a part of it, it was just life (which more stories need to be this way). It was very much a slice of life type of read, which I also enjoyed.
Because it was a slice, I didn’t find there to be much plot. Which some readers love that style! But for me, it was just okay. Because of the lack of plot, the story seemed to slow down in sections when other parts were quick. While reading, the back and forth communication between characters seemed flat. While I read in my head, I give the characters voices and infliction, but I couldn’t with this story.
Warning! There are no quotation marks.
Overall, I can see why the book was popular so and I would suggest checking it out. I will absolutely pick up other work by Washington!
Content Warnings: cancer, infidelity, homophobia, death, alcoholism, abuse
Another bonus? TV adaptation! I could see it being successful onscreen so I will definitely watch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
imrereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Wow! Just wow. Review to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
caphewritings's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
bootsmom3's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Medical content, and Racism
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
mochi21's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to love this book. I tried.
I liked the way this book was written when I started it, but by the end, I hated it. Same thing with Benson. I liked him in the begining, but once I got to Mike's perspective, I hated him.
It just dragged on and on. I get what he was trying to do, but there were no surprises in this book.
I also don't mind sex scenes, but the ones in this book are extremely graphic, but also sad, and stifled, and angry.
No character in this book is good.
I don't get the weird parallel with Mike's relationship with his parents and his with Ben.
What I do like is this book leaves nothing out. It's like life. You have to do everything. When a door opens, you have to close it. When someone cooks, someone has to do dishes. Unfortunately, this also makes these 300 pages pretty much unbearable to read.
Oh and, by the way, the part in the middle that gives Mike's perspective is one huge 130 page chapter. So there's that.
I liked the way this book was written when I started it, but by the end, I hated it. Same thing with Benson. I liked him in the begining, but once I got to Mike's perspective, I hated him.
It just dragged on and on. I get what he was trying to do, but there were no surprises in this book.
I also don't mind sex scenes, but the ones in this book are extremely graphic, but also sad, and stifled, and angry.
No character in this book is good.
I don't get the weird parallel with Mike's relationship with his parents and his with Ben.
What I do like is this book leaves nothing out. It's like life. You have to do everything. When a door opens, you have to close it. When someone cooks, someone has to do dishes. Unfortunately, this also makes these 300 pages pretty much unbearable to read.
Oh and, by the way, the part in the middle that gives Mike's perspective is one huge 130 page chapter. So there's that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
uncreationmyth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
a difficult read in the sense that everyone was so real & so human that it was frustrating to see firsthand the hesitation & the disconnect between people's thoughts/words/actions with a clarity that can only come from distance, and only be able to watch each person's part of the story try to unfold with all of the snags and tears.
anyways make therapy accessible & de-stigmatized for everyone challenge. something something intergenerational trauma & intimacy/attachment issues. i should call my dad.
anyways make therapy accessible & de-stigmatized for everyone challenge. something something intergenerational trauma & intimacy/attachment issues. i should call my dad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
megkdo's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
This book was harsh to read because of how true the characters were to reality. Their flaws, issues, and choices so mirrored the complicated mess of real life parent-child and intimate relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
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