blackveilbeccy 's review for:

The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram

4.75

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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This was incredibly adorable. I loved the disability representation and it was handled very sensitively. Both the female lead and the disabled male lead were awesome, well fleshed out characters. The romance had a perfect balance between fluffiness and realism, leaning towards fluffy - which, given how challenging some of the themes in the book were, is probably for the best. The supporting characters were mostly well rounded, particularly the families of both leads. I love the shades of grey in the various antagonists too - this wasn’t a high school romance that was one dimensional at all. Recommended!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood

Minor: Death, Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

Parentification, family dysfunction, toxic divorce, traumatic brain injury, use of the r slur