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bel017's review
- 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
I hadn't realised there was neglect, confinement and emotional abuse of a child on the page. I wouldn't have read it if I'd realised, so I skipped all those sections as best I could. Lots of fascinating, terrible and excellent information about the DeafBlind community, wrapped in a challenging but heartfelt story. By the time I realised the triggers I was in too deep and had to find out what happened.
I was shocked at how many parents of Deaf children don't learn sign language. The idea that they ... choose not to? Don't have the resources to? I don't understand. Everything was distressing.
I didn't realise this had been listed as a romance. It's not really a romance, it's a bildungsroman (coming of age story).
Graphic: Bullying, Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Confinement, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Cancer, Excrement, Outing, Blood, and Sexual harassment
uranaishi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Excrement, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Medical content, Outing, Terminal illness, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Colonisation, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Deportation, Physical abuse, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
meliroo's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, and Infidelity
literallycorey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to the author and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This book was unlike anything I've ever read before. The story unfolds via two POVs, a DeafBlind man named Arlo and his interpreter Cyril. This is a story of coming of age, of love, loss, and learning to stand up for yourself. I really enjoyed the story but what I loved most was learning about the day to day life of a DeafBlind person and the services and technologies available.
I had concerns that the book was villainizing Arlo's religion at first, but by the end I really just saw it as portraying how attempts to keep a person with disabilities safe can sometimes limit opportunities for them to live their lives to the fullest.
The author bio mentions that Blair Fell has been an ASL interpreter for more than 25 years. What a gift it is for him to share his background and insights through this work of fiction.
⭐⭐⭐
Graphic: Ableism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Cursing