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A review by betweentheshelves
Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well this was adorable and emotional in probably the best ways possible. It felt very much like a teen novel, right down to the romance. There were some great discussions about queer identity, especially relating to bisexuality, and I am always here for that. Ollie and Will had great chemistry and even though their relationship wasn't always smooth sailing, it felt realistic for a relationship in high school.
The friends that Ollie meets when starting school in North Carolina are also well fleshed out, creating a fun little group where some of the relationships mirrored other ones. Ollie's relationship with Lara was probably the most interesting, especially since it seemed like they didn't hit it off at first. The evolution of their friendship was fantastic.
A lot of the emotional aspects come from Ollie's struggles with his aunt's cancer, and there are some really devastating scenes in here. They felt realistically portrayed, and I even felt myself tearing up at times listening to the audiobook.
The only thing I think I wish would have been done a bit better, and this could have been because I listened to it rather than read it, was clarity between the flashbacks and the current timeline. It always took me a minute when they were going back to the summer, which made things a little confusing.
All in all, if you're looking for something in the vein of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this is definitely a book for you!
The friends that Ollie meets when starting school in North Carolina are also well fleshed out, creating a fun little group where some of the relationships mirrored other ones. Ollie's relationship with Lara was probably the most interesting, especially since it seemed like they didn't hit it off at first. The evolution of their friendship was fantastic.
A lot of the emotional aspects come from Ollie's struggles with his aunt's cancer, and there are some really devastating scenes in here. They felt realistically portrayed, and I even felt myself tearing up at times listening to the audiobook.
The only thing I think I wish would have been done a bit better, and this could have been because I listened to it rather than read it, was clarity between the flashbacks and the current timeline. It always took me a minute when they were going back to the summer, which made things a little confusing.
All in all, if you're looking for something in the vein of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this is definitely a book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Fatphobia, and Grief