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princessgonchar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
That's not to say that the book would have benefited from being more magical (whatever that means), but I do think the book would have benefited in my eyes from being marketed or described more accurately.
Ultimately, I didn't dislike it. I thought it was solid. I just didn't love it.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, and Sexism
hell_o_ana's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Drug use, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia
nerdinthelibrary's review
- 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
I hold him. He holds me.
I am held. He is held.
This book... god, this book really hit me. I've only read one other Anna-Marie McLemore books, When the Moon Was Ours, and I read that way back in 2018/2019. I gave it a 3.5, really liked it but didn't adore it. In the years that followed, every book McLemore put out was one I was interested in but for some reason just never picked up. Until finally in 2021 I impulsively pre-ordered The Mirror Season. For the first 40ish pages of this book, I felt how I remembered feeling while reading When the Moon Was Ours - I was liking it but not loving it, more respecting what was clearly fantastic writing than actually enjoying anything. And while I wouldn't necessarily say I enjoy this book, I did begin to fall in love with it after those first 40ish pages. It really snuck up on me and suddenly I was reading almost all of it in one sitting.
This is a tough book. There were moments when I was gripping it so hard I was genuinely worried I would break it. There were other moments where I had to hold back tears. But there were also moments where I was smiling so wide it must have looked silly. The relationship between Celia and Lock is one of the most beautiful I've read in a very long time. The complex dynamic they have because of what they've been through and their different but oh so similar experiences, and the way they navigate their relationship... I just loved it. McLemore's writing is as strong and gorgeous as ever, making me adore a book in my dreaded first-person and present-tense. A much-needed reminder that I need to prioritise their books more.
Not a book I would recommend without caveats (please look at those trigger warnings), but one that I will recommend with my whole heart.
We cannot keep each other together. Neither of us can do that for the other. It's our own work. But we help each other keep track of the pieces.
We make sure nothing gets lost.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Sexism, and Fatphobia
macquincy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Racism, Bullying, and Biphobia
foreverinastory's review
- 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
Rep: Pansexual Mexican-American female MC with PTSD, white male love interest with PTSD, Latine lesbian female side character, sapphic female side character, Mexican-American side characters.
CWs: Body shaming, bullying, drugging of side character w/o consent, grief, homophobia, lesbophobia, mental illness (PTSD), racism, rape, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual violence.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
plumpaperbacks'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? No
4.5
Representation
- Mexican pansexual protagonist
- Mexican side characters
- lesbian side character & minor sapphic side romance (f/f)
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Contains brief mentions of underage drinking. Moderate victim blaming. Graphic mentions of drugging; Lock explains his drink was drugged at the party where he and Ciela were assaulted.puttingwingsonwords'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: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Bullying, and Biphobia
bookcaptivated'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism
Minor: Blood
erinsbookshelves'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: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Body shaming, Biphobia, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief
alibader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a very difficult topic to read about and I think McLemore did it justice; this is a needed book in our society today. Using beautiful prose the author integrates gender, sexuality and racial conflicts into the novel. The characters felt so real with so many layers that were explored as the story progressed.
This was my first Anna-Marie McLemore novel and I'm excited to pick up more.
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content