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james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
‘It was simple, it was daft, it was beautiful, it was Michael.’
I won’t describe the plot as I truly believe you should go into this book blind - the back cover only says it’s about Ellis and Michael and then a girl called Annie arrives. The reading experience, getting to understand the story, events fitting into place and character interactions are so worthwhile, it was of the upmost pleasure to read this book. I say that, but oh my did Winman give me all the feels and I can confirm I cried multiple times at this little book. Beautifully raw and heartbreaking writing adds to this but there’s also many lovely parts too - it’s quite the rollercoaster. I know I have to give this book a reread (and it’ll be horrible knowing what’s to come as I do so) to cement my thoughts because in many ways I’m at a loss for words after finishing it. I do know it’s instantly became a new favourite of mine and I’m extremely grateful to have read this book. Please read it, you will not regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual content, Homophobia, Racism, Cancer, and Death of parent
caoimheisme's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Car accident
bguyre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Terminal illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse
naddl0r's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
danimarie96's review
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
parasolcrafter's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
its about the fact that they loved at all that makes this book so tragic... that they loved and lost but didnt lose each other and then did lose each other and then found each other again only for ellis to lose both of his loves with such finality...goodbye. im gonna think abt this book for a long time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Car accident, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death, Drug use, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Cursing
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was pretty beautiful. The first half was a little meandering, but it really started to sing in its second half. This also felt like an AIDS crisis book done right, focused on the queer people whose lives were affected, and the interplay between the AIDS crisis and internalized homophobia and shame about queer sexuality. I am also partial to love stories that exist beyond labels, which definitely applied to this book. The two main characters, yes, were queer men, but one was never explicitly labeled, and all we as the audience had to know was that they loved each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Car accident, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness
tetedump's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Suicide, Death, and Terminal illness
CW for HIV/AIDSanna_m_k's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
sofiajearally's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
It's a story about Michael and Ellis, about yearning and words left unsaid.
It reads like a stream of consciousness, interspersed with hard-hitting dialogue, then-and-now scenes nicely and seamlessly interwoven. But I would have liked to have more focus on some moments (likeMichael's and Ellis's childhood leading up to their first kiss ), while some others were too long and descriptive in my opinion. In the end, while both main characters are lovable, we spend more time with Michael and I ended up getting him much more than Ellis, who's made decisions that I still didn't understand at the end of the book. One would argue that that's how life is, though.
It feels real. The yearning, the grieving, the regrets, all parts of the human experience depicted gracefully, heart-breaking in how ordinary and relatable they are (the wedding scenes broke me). I was personally deeply moved by how random acts of kindness are peppered throughout the book and how the characters respond to them. The side characters behind them are endearing, and the women are so g.o.o.d.
In a way, this book reminded me a lot of Brokeback Mountain, though the plot is different. But it's still about time, masculinity and taking someone for granted. And it's sad, man. Ellis 'I ain't queer' Judd *sigh*.
Overall, I'm a bit disappointed by the story, but the book is so full of gorgeous themes and mesmerizing lines that I'm still happy I read it. I think the no-plot-just-vibes sad people would appreciate it.
It reads like a stream of consciousness, interspersed with hard-hitting dialogue, then-and-now scenes nicely and seamlessly interwoven. But I would have liked to have more focus on some moments (like
It feels real. The yearning, the grieving, the regrets, all parts of the human experience depicted gracefully, heart-breaking in how ordinary and relatable they are (the wedding scenes broke me). I was personally deeply moved by how random acts of kindness are peppered throughout the book and how the characters respond to them. The side characters behind them are endearing, and the women are so g.o.o.d.
In a way, this book reminded me a lot of Brokeback Mountain, though the plot is different. But it's still about time, masculinity and taking someone for granted. And it's sad, man. Ellis 'I ain't queer' Judd *sigh*.
Overall, I'm a bit disappointed by the story, but the book is so full of gorgeous themes and mesmerizing lines that I'm still happy I read it. I think the no-plot-just-vibes sad people would appreciate it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Medical content, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Misogyny