Scan barcode
marinapaso11's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Murder
kaseymkelley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
katrinarose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, and Outing
anastasia_raf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also think that people give Buddy Lee too much gredit when he rarely stops himself from being an asshole.
Ike, I think you need to start appreciating your wife more.
There was one of many sentences that rubbed me the wrong way... But this one? Not a fan. ''Buddy Lee leaned against the sink. His chest was as tight as virgin pussy." Huh.
I want to believe that this book is supposed to be a punch in toxic masculinity's throat since all this happened because Cis-het (especially white,) man are insecure in their own sexuality and very existence,
BUT, I felt like queer people were just there to serve the plot. I felt their presence was "over-exploited." I get how and why they were important to the plot but they were also used as an excuse for "character growth." This book goes out of its way to show how these fathers were educated on these topics by their gay sons and queer people in general and yet does nothing to educate its audience and to lift up queer voices. Another perspective on the plot is that these two homophobic fathers used revenge as a way of absolving themselves of the guilt (about the awful treatment towards their sons and their ignorant ass towards queerness.) And yet, was it intentional? Or just...there? I think that's where the book lacked in a way. It's not clear on where it stands.
"Still, some of Cosby's other choices render this novel something short of a triumph. Queer people are central to the investigation and the story, but not a one has a particularly strong, fully realized voice of their own..." "Cosby also has straight people talking about LGBTQIA+ marginalization in conversations that sometimes sound preachy rather than organic. It's a jarring juxtaposition — having straight characters gain this growing awareness of and sensitivity to discrimination when the queer characters are marginalized in the narrative." By Carole V. Bell, a cultural critic and communication scholar focusing on media, politics and identity.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexism, Car accident, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
leosthetics's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
bookworm247's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- 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
The story follows Ike and Buddy Lee, both ex-cons and fathers of the murdered couple Isiah and Derek. Having neglected their sons when they came out gay, both are looking for justice and their own redemption in finding their sons killers.
This book is one hell of a thrilling ride. I loved Ike and Buddy Lee, and the story was so well-written that I really came to appreciate these two violent, prejudiced and hard-headed men.
If you're looking for a thrill, read this book!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
kennedybullen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Blood, and Car accident
amieleigh8919's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Abandonment
ericaereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Transphobia, and Grief