A review by arieslofi
Brat by Gabriel Smith

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

this book thinks itself higher than its reader, which is a crime i cannot and will never forgive any type of media for. it's insanely irritating how the book revers itself, considers itself to be oh, so extremely clever, the writer proudly telling anyone on goodreads that "the last sentences are an open invitation to re-read the book, and you'll get the answers". that is not the case. i'm sorry but anyone with two working brain cells will understand that this book is about grief: the skin peels and the house falls apart and the script and vhs change and nothing feels real because that's how gabriel, our protagonist, is grieving. and the book explicitly tells you this, too!
the writing is horrid with simple and snappy sentences that, despite making it very fast to read, become exhausting quickly. there's annoying banter that repeats itself every few pages that makes no sense. calling your brother "retarded" and "gay" constantly under the pretense that it's okay because "grief makes you regress" doesn't make good banter. it was so insanely tiring to read, and not in the way the author intended.
do not recommend! don't read this, you will not be left satisfied in any way. 
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