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celestial_being's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
batsinthecastle's review against another edition
3.0
** 3.8 stars**
Good narrators and a weird story. I felt it maintained it's interest level, had good pacing, and was just dark enough to dig some substance out of the characters. I did like them actually, and I liked the mortuary setting as well.
A good short audiobook for a roadtrip or commute.
Good narrators and a weird story. I felt it maintained it's interest level, had good pacing, and was just dark enough to dig some substance out of the characters. I did like them actually, and I liked the mortuary setting as well.
A good short audiobook for a roadtrip or commute.
sionna's review against another edition
4.0
*I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I went into this one not sure exactly what to expect, but at the end of it I had given it part of my heart.
These characters are flawed. They can be self-absorbed, selfish, and insensitive, but it makes them real. Also, all these flaws are called on. This is a book about platonic friendship and closure. It is about improving ourselves and being honest with and about ourselves. I didn't like all the characters, yet I still felt myself pulled to them and being empathetic with their situations. I was rooting for Dino to speak up for himself, wishing I could give July a hug when she came to terms with her situation, and was so happy with their growth as people.
In terms of representation: There is a slew of LGBT characters with Dino being gay in a relationship with a trans person of color-- who is probably the most mature character. As far as I could tell July is a cis white female and we get a lot of good discussion regarding her mindset of LGBT people. She makes some jokes and gets called out. I think the whole discussion and outcome are done really well.
This book is about character growth, which I think is done so well. So, don't go into this for the undead factor and hoping for a resolved explanation. The coming back to life part is dealt with, but I don't think much is really explained especially since this isn't a fantasy novel.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it to more people.
I went into this one not sure exactly what to expect, but at the end of it I had given it part of my heart.
These characters are flawed. They can be self-absorbed, selfish, and insensitive, but it makes them real. Also, all these flaws are called on. This is a book about platonic friendship and closure. It is about improving ourselves and being honest with and about ourselves. I didn't like all the characters, yet I still felt myself pulled to them and being empathetic with their situations. I was rooting for Dino to speak up for himself, wishing I could give July a hug when she came to terms with her situation, and was so happy with their growth as people.
In terms of representation: There is a slew of LGBT characters with Dino being gay in a relationship with a trans person of color-- who is probably the most mature character. As far as I could tell July is a cis white female and we get a lot of good discussion regarding her mindset of LGBT people. She makes some jokes and gets called out. I think the whole discussion and outcome are done really well.
This book is about character growth, which I think is done so well. So, don't go into this for the undead factor and hoping for a resolved explanation. The coming back to life part is dealt with, but I don't think much is really explained especially since this isn't a fantasy novel.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it to more people.
sstephreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book managed to make me chuckle, which is good. But it also dealt with death in a thoughtful way and I think it was done really tastefully.
isopod_lover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Screaming crying throwing up
moonlight_reader9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thebookberrie's review against another edition
2.0
The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried is about a teenager named Dino who works at his parent's funeral home. One day his ex-best friend, July, dies suddenly and then comes back to life on the table. As they both try to figure out what happened, they have to come to turns with the reason they stopped being best friends and move on from there.
I just don't like this book, flat out. It barely ever appealed to me and I only listened to the audiobook for a reading challenge and because it was super short. Even while being super short, I was still so bored. And then this entire book barely even does anything? It feels like the entire thing was maybe two events, and then it ended. People come back to life, we never learn why, they go back to being dead, book is over. Sure there is a whole bunch of mess with Dino and his family and the drama with his boyfriend but it was just so pointless.
Half of Dino's plotline is literally that he dumped his boyfriend because the dude was "too perfect". That's his only personality trait that we see and Dino just keeps angsting about it. The other half is how he ditched his best friend to spend time with his boyfriend. That's pretty much the reason him and July even had an issue? There's also a tiny bit about how he doesn't want to work in his family's funeral home anymore either. The zombie thing is just whatever; there for fun and not ever explained.
This book is supposed to be about an epic friendship but ehhhh. Their friendship was WEAK. Dino was so boring and July herself was such an annoying character. I can't tell if I hated her audiobook narrator because I found the character so annoying or because the audiobook narrator actually had an annoying voice. Probably both at this point. She would just keep saying dumb offensive shit and then being like, I HAVE A GAY FRIEND, IT'S OKAY. Dino even tells her not to do that and she still didn't seem to understand. I don't have a problem with unlikable characters when it makes sense but she can stay dead, thanks.
I didn't like the writing either. It tried so hard to be funny but then it tried to be dramatic and dark and I just didn't care. Not the book for me and the two stars are only because it couldn't even piss me off enough to get one star.
I just don't like this book, flat out. It barely ever appealed to me and I only listened to the audiobook for a reading challenge and because it was super short. Even while being super short, I was still so bored. And then this entire book barely even does anything? It feels like the entire thing was maybe two events, and then it ended. People come back to life, we never learn why, they go back to being dead, book is over. Sure there is a whole bunch of mess with Dino and his family and the drama with his boyfriend but it was just so pointless.
Half of Dino's plotline is literally that he dumped his boyfriend because the dude was "too perfect". That's his only personality trait that we see and Dino just keeps angsting about it. The other half is how he ditched his best friend to spend time with his boyfriend. That's pretty much the reason him and July even had an issue? There's also a tiny bit about how he doesn't want to work in his family's funeral home anymore either. The zombie thing is just whatever; there for fun and not ever explained.
This book is supposed to be about an epic friendship but ehhhh. Their friendship was WEAK. Dino was so boring and July herself was such an annoying character. I can't tell if I hated her audiobook narrator because I found the character so annoying or because the audiobook narrator actually had an annoying voice. Probably both at this point. She would just keep saying dumb offensive shit and then being like, I HAVE A GAY FRIEND, IT'S OKAY. Dino even tells her not to do that and she still didn't seem to understand. I don't have a problem with unlikable characters when it makes sense but she can stay dead, thanks.
I didn't like the writing either. It tried so hard to be funny but then it tried to be dramatic and dark and I just didn't care. Not the book for me and the two stars are only because it couldn't even piss me off enough to get one star.
eddieboy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
I tried to read this book for the first time back in... some time around 2019/2020, it was pre pandemic, I was pre figuring out any of my own queer identity or experiencing a death of a friend for myself. I wasn't ready to relate to this book at the time, but now it feels a lot more... at home for me. I'm glad I tried to read it again and finished it instead of leaving it as a dnf of my late teens. It really was great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Fatphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, and Transphobia
olivia9024's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
afoolishfigment's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
Dealing with the un-death of your ex best friend can be rough.