Reviews

Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero

cbmac's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.75

I think the translator did a good job of catching the lyricism of the writing and the mood of the book.  I wish I spoke Spanish to verify that. 

The story is an important POV in the coming of age of a trans-woman. Because the author is trans it makes me feel the story is autobiographical. 

I did get a bit bored at about 70% but the last chapter was a beautiful full circle moment. 

micassel's review against another edition

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challenging informative 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? Yes

4.25

francescaar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

amandarose529's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad

5.0

on the difficulties of growing up trans, sisterhood, community, coming of age, finding oneself. masterful, evocative writing 

“They were both young, in their early twenties, and reveling in all the cruelty youth is capable of. Which is a lot. Regrets and restraint come with decrepitude, as does selfishness, when suddenly we find ourselves on the flip side of life acknowledging that there’s hardly an ugly thing that won’t eventually find us.”

“When we laugh wholeheartedly, we inhabit no age. We do it in exactly the same way throughout our lives, and in our cackling expressions, you can glimpse both the little girls we once were and the old ladies we will become.”

“He was so close to us that, if they hadn’t been gouged out, his eyes surly would have stared back.”

“It was so strange to feel so much fear, see life as so dark, see yourself as so disfigured, and at the same time, be aware that, seen through the right lens, I myself, gripping my first lover’s hand, was the promise of a brighter future.”

“It seemed to me that when mothers comb their daughters’ hair, they transmit an intangible love and a wordless beauty that couldn’t be conveyed in any other way.”

“I learned that we daughters are always indebted, that we cannot give back what we are given, because that wouldn’t be natural. Our mission is to pass on what we’ve been imparted to other women, whoever they may be. I learned that genealogy, as an inherited love, is a waterfall that only flows downwards.” 

someweirdthing's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

randomwalk's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring 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

4.75

escritoradelallama's review against another edition

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5.0

Qué maravilla. Qué bien escribe Alana y qué bien refleja cómo la vida y los barrios han ido cambiando y cómo era el Madrid de los 80-90

aflorpoetica's review against another edition

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5.0

El final me ha dejado un poco fría, pero el conjunto de la novela es excepcional. Qué estilo y qué historia, he echado la lágrima cuando pocas veces lloro con los libros. Espero que la narrativa LGTB continue teniendo tantas buenas críticas y reseñas para hacernos percibir tan cerca realidades ajenas.

mandameow's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

lottie1803's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.25