A review by leepc
Maurice by E.M. Forster

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A heartbreakingly accurate depiction of the inherent loneliness that comes with queer identity. Forster elegantly describes what I thought was indescribable with beautiful, yet straightforward language. Some days I burst into tears from the thought of this book. There is a happy ending, but the author’s notes are absolutely heart wrenching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Outing

The book deals with queer identity in a time period when it was criminalized, and the author did not have an optimistic outlook on the future of LGBT rights. The main triggers come from

a toxic relationship in which two university students navigate their same-gender attraction together, ending in one of them having a mental health crisis and isolating and neglecting the other

Some readers also may be triggered by relatively tense mentions of blackmail and what could be perceived as stalking.