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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
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 topicautumnnleeaves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Bullying
lena1508's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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
4.5
Eleanor wants to be invisible. But her flaming red hair and thrift store fashion make her stand out like a sore thumb. So when she steps onto the school bus and slides into the empty seat next to Park, she keeps herself to herself. Until he notices her reading over his shoulder. Issues of comics are exchanged before words are, but slowly they get to know each other through Marvel and mix tapes. With a less than harmonious home life and bullies terrorising her at school, she discovers the safety and comfort of friendship and first love... now she just has to keep it hidden.
This is a simple story of teen love, but is so effectively told. It completely draws you in, portraying beautifully that dream-like version of budding romance where you two are the only characters of consequence in the story. The people that surround you; friends, family, classmates and colleagues are there and interact with you, affect your life and continue in their roles, but your focus is continually drawn to that person you have feelings for. In this case, I found that it didn't matter that the secondary characters weren't necessarily drawn with that much depth; they just didn't need it as they weren't as important as this growing relationship.
That being said, Eleanor's background is horrifying and, as the story progresses, it's hard to understand why her mother remains loyal to her utterly disgusting step-father. He is the only character that perhaps could have been more starkly drawn. He is a nasty piece of work, but he doesn't quite come to life enough for me to inspire that burning hatred that other literary villains of a similar ilk do.
The writing style bounces back and forth between Eleanor and Park's POVs in fairly rapid succession, but in this case it works perfectly for the story being told. You get to see the development of their relationship and their wider lives from both perspectives simultaneously, which means the shifting balance of feelings is always evident.
I understand from the author's notes why the ending is the way that it is, but if I do have one criticism it's that the end does feel a bit rushed. The resolution of the slight 'mystery' element should have a greater impact than it does, and the emotional fallout for both Eleanor and Park deserves more page space... I'm not 100% sure how it could work myself, but it seemed to me that there was an entire potential third act within those last few pages. But I'm not going to complain about the last few lines. Perfectly pitched.
This book is more about the feelings it inspires in the reader rather than its literary merits. And I definitely have all the feels after that!
This is a simple story of teen love, but is so effectively told. It completely draws you in, portraying beautifully that dream-like version of budding romance where you two are the only characters of consequence in the story. The people that surround you; friends, family, classmates and colleagues are there and interact with you, affect your life and continue in their roles, but your focus is continually drawn to that person you have feelings for. In this case, I found that it didn't matter that the secondary characters weren't necessarily drawn with that much depth; they just didn't need it as they weren't as important as this growing relationship.
That being said, Eleanor's background is horrifying and, as the story progresses, it's hard to understand why her mother remains loyal to her utterly disgusting step-father. He is the only character that perhaps could have been more starkly drawn. He is a nasty piece of work, but he doesn't quite come to life enough for me to inspire that burning hatred that other literary villains of a similar ilk do.
The writing style bounces back and forth between Eleanor and Park's POVs in fairly rapid succession, but in this case it works perfectly for the story being told. You get to see the development of their relationship and their wider lives from both perspectives simultaneously, which means the shifting balance of feelings is always evident.
I understand from the author's notes why the ending is the way that it is, but if I do have one criticism it's that the end does feel a bit rushed. The resolution of the slight 'mystery' element should have a greater impact than it does, and the emotional fallout for both Eleanor and Park deserves more page space... I'm not 100% sure how it could work myself, but it seemed to me that there was an entire potential third act within those last few pages. But I'm not going to complain about the last few lines. Perfectly pitched.
This book is more about the feelings it inspires in the reader rather than its literary merits. And I definitely have all the feels after that!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Blood
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
_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
jo_555's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book was really cute, but i think i might just be to old for it. The storyline felt a little unrealistic but I would probably have loved this when i was 11-ish. I loved the way Park described Eleanor, and the ending was really beautiful and sad, but other than that the characters where kinda flat. But the worst part about this book was definetly the microagressions, the book is filled with weird racist remarks, and the main character (who is korean) is called PARK?! Like???? Im asuming it was to show how racist society was back then, but like the whole ninja thing and the random comment about the black guy?? If you want to write a character who struggels with race, you need to do some research, atleast enough to know you can’t call a korean guy Park.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
yolie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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? N/A
5.0
My favourite book of the year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Dysphoria
Minor: Racism
bookdxryl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
3.75
Damn, this was a good book. The relationship was
cute. The emotion was hitting just right. It was fast paced. Characters were fleshed out and mostly like-able. Plot twist was nice. This is a very well written book for most of it.
I even overlooked the weird racial characterization of the black girls and how they talked. It was a different time but idk it rubbed me the wrong way and when she kept calling him the weird asian kid. You know his name. I tried to get past that though because of it being a different time and the writing was good but idk the racism was weird. It was so unnecessary.
Then the end happened. I knew the end wouldn’t be satisfying. I wouldn’t class this as a romance. Not a happy ending. It feels so unsatisfying. I’m happy that Eleanor is safe and doing well but the fact that she just gave up on the relationship and basically erased park from her mind was so annoying and out of character.
There were times where I didn’t like Park and there were times where I didn’t like Eleanor. But I just hate when a character cuts off all contact for absolutely no reason. She had no actual reason to not call or answer his letters. It just seemed tacked on for an ambiguous ending that didn’t need to be there.
Despite that, I still liked this book. Usually, it feels like a waste of time when the ending of a romance is like this but I don’t feel like this was a waste of time. They were so cute, probably one of the cutest couples i’ve read about. Then again, I don’t consider this romance. So maybe that affects the way I feel about the story.
Damn, this was a good book. The relationship was
cute. The emotion was hitting just right. It was fast paced. Characters were fleshed out and mostly like-able. Plot twist was nice. This is a very well written book for most of it.
Then the end happened. I knew the end wouldn’t be satisfying. I wouldn’t class this as a romance. Not a happy ending. It feels so unsatisfying. I’m happy that Eleanor is safe and doing well but the fact that she just gave up on the relationship and basically erased park from her mind was so annoying and out of character.
There were times where I didn’t like Park and there were times where I didn’t like Eleanor. But I just hate when a character cuts off all contact for absolutely no reason. She had no actual reason to not call or answer his letters. It just seemed tacked on for an ambiguous ending that didn’t need to be there.
Despite that, I still liked this book. Usually, it feels like a waste of time when the ending of a romance is like this but I don’t feel like this was a waste of time. They were so cute, probably one of the cutest couples i’ve read about. Then again, I don’t consider this romance. So maybe that affects the way I feel about the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts