A review by crystalreads_aveces
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

emotional lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

my goodness I love this book. it was very simple with the writing and sometimes very cut and dry which I normally don't love. However, I think that it works here. It makes the story feel like it was told by an actual fifteen to seventeen year old boy. The writing style helps contribute to building the thought process and feelings of a teenager. The book as a whole didn't feel pretentious or overly formal. It felt like what it is. A coming of age novel about a boy struggling through maturity and learning to discover himself and the "secrets of the universe." It felt real and raw and personal.
It was revealing and it settles around the idea of ari's internalized homophobia and how it kept him from realizing himself. I cannot wait for the sequel though I would be perfectly happy to leave ari and dante where they are. happy and together and in love.
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