A review by epen
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

3.5

Prose style a bit choppy for me—it took me some time to get used to. A bit overwritten in that vein sometimes, but not too often; I think the author’s descriptive language and use of literary devices were mostly solid. Complex queer characters and good portrayals of friendship. Dialogue a little off sometimes. Totally gratuitous transphobia toward non-binary people by the protagonist that sort of improved by the end of the novel but not sufficiently for how explicit it initially was. 
 
Loved the portion of the book during which S was with her family in India, and particularly the portions about the plants that grew. Also encouraging for a story to have a coming out arc that didn’t end in disownment.
 
sometimes felt a little 2018 for a book written in 2022. 
Overall enjoyed and would recommend. 
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