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theythemsam's review against another edition
4.25
S.A. has a way of writing troubled characters…and imma eat it up every time! I loved how queer this book was and how Cosby handled the characters in it. I loved Tangerine as a character and how he was able to incorporate a trans woman into this story beautifully. I also loved how Ike and Buddy Lee were able to come to terms, though not fully but thoughtfully, with their son’s identity and the identites of others in the queer community. And though they had their hiccups, it felt very true to those men’s characters and I’m happy they were able to get revenge fr.
juchinnii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m conflicted about this book. The writing style really brought the characters to life and I felt like I was in the Deep South - it’s clearly something the author is very familiar with. The main characters were just kinda the worst though. It felt like “old men finally attempt to discover empathy while also going on a violent and murderous rampage” and I’m clearly biased, I’ve grown up in a very liberal and accepting household, but I feel like that just added to my frustration with these characters. In the middle part they’re looking for information and whether people help them or not, they just keep fighting w everyone. Most of the LGBTQ+ people in this book feature as plot devices to further the main characters’ journey, and I can’t say much more than that about the depictions of women either. I get that the author was making some big Statements about racism, homophobia, toxic masculinity, etc., but it was a lot for me. I didn’t have a good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Torture, and Transphobia
apennington's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and powerful. Any book by Cosby is an immediate must-read for me
platypus1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
ilckitay's review against another edition
4.25
piękna książka, bardzo tragiczna, mocno we mnie trafiła
sabrinas's review against another edition
It was good, but, unfortunately, I am just in the reading slump of all reading slumps
mrsmariegirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
5.0
zoebusenberg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
This moved me in ways I really did not expect and sorely needed, especially after two meh books. I tried to read this a while back but I wasn’t prioritizing reading for leisure the way I am now, so only got like 30 pages in and for one reason or another didn’t pick it back up. Jesus Christ I am so glad I did. I have a general distaste for violence (I know, super radical, I’m such a pacifist), so was slightly wary that I’d be put off by the crime part of this crime novel. But I was not - yay! Cosby made a novel studded with violence sing - none of it felt repetitive because his prose is just THAT good. The novel is largely about learning and unlearning: two fathers grieving the deaths of their sons who were married, and coming to reconcile the grief with the tension over sexuality that underpinned both father-son relationships. Neither accepted their sons while they were alive, but had a really beautiful arc of awakening and interrogation of their own beliefs. Cosby also did not shy away from nuance: I loved the way that he made Buddy and Ike confront the dynamics of race in their relationship, and the way that he called homophobia in the Black community. That barbershop scene, especially. Just so you all know I did predict the twist (it wasn’t super predictable- I’m just that good!) It had so much heart and emotion and mystery and depth, I loved it dearly. If you’re not adding this to your TBR, you’re weird!!!