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bipoc_reading 's review for:
Dear Wendy
by Ann Zhao
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The storyline is trite. The characters have zero personality. Dear Wendy has the depth of a cat piss puddle.
1. The storyline: two college students bully each other online, neither knowing who the other really is. Simultaneously, they become friends in real life. One of the characters faces so much anxiety from the bullying that she’s unable to study for midterms. In no universe, would I befriend my bully. This book is supposed to represent QPRs but QPRs are still relationships and can still be toxic. Also, these characters are trauma bonded and their only intersectionality is that they’re both aroace.
2. The representation is actually horrid. It’s purity culture, Gold Star aroace bullshit. Aroace folks come in many different ways. Some are heavy metal guitarist. Some had a lot of sex because they didn’t know about their ace ness. Some love reading and writing smut. How can you have two characters and they’re both the same cookie cutter queer stereotypes. Which god, are they stereotypes.
3. The immaturity. Both main characters have the emotional depth and behavior of a fucking middle schooler. The secret love advice, the bratty behavior, the wishing your friends were unhappy so they wouldn’t leave you. THE COMPLAINING THAT YOUR DAD PAYS YOUR TUITION. Listen, I could write a thesis on why a specific section of the apec community acts immature (see: society standards around purity culture) but this is just embarrassing behavior.
Overall, I think this book has no value for the overall aspec/arospec community. It’s very exclusive and only allows nerdy kid number one and nerdy kid number two (one with no friends, one who only ever reads) to see themselves. I don’t even wanna say it’s great to see this rep when it’s done so poorly and boring. It’s not going to help ace and aro people discover themselves if they aren’t this specific stereotype character. It’s just bad. It’s not good. Truly truly, it’s as shallow as a puddle of piss.
1. The storyline: two college students bully each other online, neither knowing who the other really is. Simultaneously, they become friends in real life. One of the characters faces so much anxiety from the bullying that she’s unable to study for midterms. In no universe, would I befriend my bully. This book is supposed to represent QPRs but QPRs are still relationships and can still be toxic. Also, these characters are trauma bonded and their only intersectionality is that they’re both aroace.
2. The representation is actually horrid. It’s purity culture, Gold Star aroace bullshit. Aroace folks come in many different ways. Some are heavy metal guitarist. Some had a lot of sex because they didn’t know about their ace ness. Some love reading and writing smut. How can you have two characters and they’re both the same cookie cutter queer stereotypes. Which god, are they stereotypes.
3. The immaturity. Both main characters have the emotional depth and behavior of a fucking middle schooler. The secret love advice, the bratty behavior, the wishing your friends were unhappy so they wouldn’t leave you. THE COMPLAINING THAT YOUR DAD PAYS YOUR TUITION. Listen, I could write a thesis on why a specific section of the apec community acts immature (see: society standards around purity culture) but this is just embarrassing behavior.
Overall, I think this book has no value for the overall aspec/arospec community. It’s very exclusive and only allows nerdy kid number one and nerdy kid number two (one with no friends, one who only ever reads) to see themselves. I don’t even wanna say it’s great to see this rep when it’s done so poorly and boring. It’s not going to help ace and aro people discover themselves if they aren’t this specific stereotype character. It’s just bad. It’s not good. Truly truly, it’s as shallow as a puddle of piss.