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skybluespines's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
4.25
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I really enjoyed this book! It was very nostalgic, reminding me of what it feels like to be a teenager with a crush and dealing with big real life things. I loved all the music and comic references, even without being familiar with the specifics of the things referenced, haha. YA romance is a genre I tend to stay away from, but I'm really glad I read this one.
I really enjoyed this book! It was very nostalgic, reminding me of what it feels like to be a teenager with a crush and dealing with big real life things. I loved all the music and comic references, even without being familiar with the specifics of the things referenced, haha. YA romance is a genre I tend to stay away from, but I'm really glad I read this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
I went into this book just knowing I was going to love it, I’ve been meaning to read it for years. Unfortunately, after it was first published and everyone loved on it I didn’t pay attention to anything else that was said about this book. I didn’t want my expectations to be too high. But if I had looked into current views on this story I probably wouldn’t have read it. It’s so hard to review this book because, on the one hand, I loved the story, on the other hand, it is racist and fatphobic and hard to read in the year 2024 when we know so much more (yes, more than even a mere 12 years ago when it was originally published) about internalized racism, bullying, body image issues, etc.
As I was reading this book I kept thinking, “I cannot be the only one that finds this racist!” After I read the book I looked into it, after all, I am a white woman and maybe I was wrong. Nope. My feelings about it were spot on. Hopefully, I can explain this correctly. I understand there was racism in the mid/late 1980s in a rural area. Park’s family is the only Asian family around. Of course there is racism. I even understand Park having internalized racism when he has a white father who is looked up to in the community and who he looks nothing like. However, the racism and Park’s feelings about himself and his mom are never addressed. Neither is Eleanor’s internalized fatphobia. In fact, Park has some not-so-nice thoughts about Eleanor even after they are a couple.
Here’s the thing. This book could have been amazing, even by 2024 standards, without the racism. The core of the story, the friendship between Eleanor and Park and Eleanor’s struggle to do what is right for herself, is beautiful. There are good lessons in this book, but they are overshadowed by the bad lessons. This is why it’s so important to have a push for Own Voices stories. From what I can tell the author is a white woman and it shows. I’m not going to give this book a star rating because I just cannot figure out how to do so. This book really didn’t age well and makes it nearly impossible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Racism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Homophobia
alex_k99's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Violence
The system wouldn't let me add parental neglect, but watch out for that if it's a difficult topiclagray27's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Abandonment
katari636's review
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book had me in the edge of my seat the entire time! It is so much more than just a teen romance! I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Physical abuse, Fatphobia, Addiction, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Bullying
valeriaana_reads's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Pedophilia
marlee_grace's review
dark
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. It was sweet and I liked the characters, I really saw them. But I just found the entire plot dragged on way too long. Slow burn for a disappointing ending with strings left untied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Violence
_gelatinouscute's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
addsa_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Very good story, heartharming. The bullying towards Eleanor, and the obscene notes towards her from Richie are kinda messed up, I think they're handled in a very mature way. Although I wish it included things as an index, tw's, a list of resources for domestic abuse , and overall more work on the structure. This issues are probably edditiorial mistakes/faults, instead of actual content, so I enjoyed it a lot.
In summary, Eleanor & Park is a heartwarming, yet mature and dark romantic artwork.
P. D. I read the Spanish Physical edition.
In summary, Eleanor & Park is a heartwarming, yet mature and dark romantic artwork.
P. D. I read the Spanish Physical edition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
rafacolog's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Racism, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Domestic abuse