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A review by lennie_reads
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Books UK for this ARC.
Full disclosure - I waited so long to read the arc that I read the finished printed version.
I was so so happy when Saenz annoucned that we had a sequel to the first book.
Whilst I i love the first one, after a re-read it reminded me that we really don't see much of happy Ari or Ari & Dante actually together. And we only experience things through Ari's narrow and unreliable lens.
Despite the books being written 10 years apart, Saenz seems to be able to dive immediately back into Ari's head so it genuinely doesn't feel like any time has passed from book 1 to book 2. (Pun not intended but I'm keeping it!)
In this book we see a much happier Ari who is finally accepting himself and accepting love from his friends, family and Dante.
Although the two still have to navigate rampant homophobia during the AIDS pandemic, racism and the more 'usual' teenage struggles of college and a possible long distance relationship.
This book also seems to delve into different types of relationships, different types of love, and how they're all important in their own ways.
I love the way Saenz write: it just flows so well whilst also being so poignant and beautiful.
This book also confirmed my theory of Ari being demisexual. It doesn't say it anywhere explicitly but istg he is the most demisexual coded character ever.
If you loved the first book then you 100% should read this one. It'll give you the more fleshed out HFN whilst also getting to know the characters more, especially now that Ari's perspectives have been opened up so his perceptions of people are more 3D.
Full disclosure - I waited so long to read the arc that I read the finished printed version.
I was so so happy when Saenz annoucned that we had a sequel to the first book.
Whilst I i love the first one, after a re-read it reminded me that we really don't see much of happy Ari or Ari & Dante actually together. And we only experience things through Ari's narrow and unreliable lens.
Despite the books being written 10 years apart, Saenz seems to be able to dive immediately back into Ari's head so it genuinely doesn't feel like any time has passed from book 1 to book 2. (Pun not intended but I'm keeping it!)
In this book we see a much happier Ari who is finally accepting himself and accepting love from his friends, family and Dante.
Although the two still have to navigate rampant homophobia during the AIDS pandemic, racism and the more 'usual' teenage struggles of college and a possible long distance relationship.
This book also seems to delve into different types of relationships, different types of love, and how they're all important in their own ways.
I love the way Saenz write: it just flows so well whilst also being so poignant and beautiful.
This book also confirmed my theory of Ari being demisexual. It doesn't say it anywhere explicitly but istg he is the most demisexual coded character ever.
If you loved the first book then you 100% should read this one. It'll give you the more fleshed out HFN whilst also getting to know the characters more, especially now that Ari's perspectives have been opened up so his perceptions of people are more 3D.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Deadnaming