You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jessjessthebest 's review for:
Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens
by Tanya Boteju
Are writers allergic to the denouement? What is going on?
That is only my immediate first reaction because I just finished the book and it ended mid-action and I'm not overly fond of that
HOWEVER!
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. Drag kings definitely need more of a spotlight. I liked the complicated relationships we saw throughout the book and I really liked that they were allowed to be messy and embarassing.
That being said: the book was too long.
It was too long! There are a good fifty pages in the middle that could be completely taken out and it literally would not change anything. The kiss with Ginny can be cut - we got our resolution with her at the very beginning. The Pool House Party could be cut down dramatically. Almost all the shit with Nima's mom could have been cut completely. I don't know why I have to keep begging writers to streamline their writing but it KEEPS HAPPENING. Narrow down to a couple plotlines - Nima and Winnow, Nima's drag career with Winnow, Gordon - and just CUT THE REST. We don't need that much Ginny. We don't need that much mom. We can keep some Jill but ONLY SOME.
Aside from a couple dragging chapters in the middle, I did find the book engaging and sweet. I might wish for a different execution but the premise and characters were good,
Yay drag!
That is only my immediate first reaction because I just finished the book and it ended mid-action and I'm not overly fond of that
HOWEVER!
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. Drag kings definitely need more of a spotlight. I liked the complicated relationships we saw throughout the book and I really liked that they were allowed to be messy and embarassing.
That being said: the book was too long.
It was too long! There are a good fifty pages in the middle that could be completely taken out and it literally would not change anything. The kiss with Ginny can be cut - we got our resolution with her at the very beginning. The Pool House Party could be cut down dramatically. Almost all the shit with Nima's mom could have been cut completely. I don't know why I have to keep begging writers to streamline their writing but it KEEPS HAPPENING. Narrow down to a couple plotlines - Nima and Winnow, Nima's drag career with Winnow, Gordon - and just CUT THE REST. We don't need that much Ginny. We don't need that much mom. We can keep some Jill but ONLY SOME.
Aside from a couple dragging chapters in the middle, I did find the book engaging and sweet. I might wish for a different execution but the premise and characters were good,
Yay drag!