ohyayitsapril's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Outing, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
madscientistcat's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Outing, Child abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Bullying
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
queen21's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Blood, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit, Medical trauma, and Violence
emilia777's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
this was disastrous and i can’t believe how anyone would be willing or even capable of ignoring the many problems with this book.
let’s start with Roman, oh boy, the lack of character development he had was simply painful to witness, actually, i think he only got worse.
but my biggest problem with his character was the the fact his behavior was excused because of his trauma. his character was a tragic case of “the abused becomes the abuser” and it causes this inability to completely hate him, it only goes to show he manipulated everyone around him, especially jonah.
jonah, who deserves so much better than the tiny glimpse of love roman would give him. he was desperate to be loved and roman only played into this. for someone who didn’t want to be like his father, he’s doing an awful job, saying things like “no one can hurt him but me” and “i’ll never let anything happen to you” right after basically assaulting him. he’s creating a facade of safety so jonah feels like he needs him and allows himself to be hurt in return for his “protection” and supposed affection. i don’t think roman is even completely aware that he does this, which is what makes their relationship so extremely toxic,
roman’s mother was described as; desperate for her husband to love her, despite everything, which only leads me to believe roman and jonah’s relationship will end up exactly like theirs.
two broken halfs don’t make a whole, people can rarely “fix” each other,
i don’t doubt these boys felt something akin to love for each other, but it’s the destructive kind and not sustainable. these boys BOTH needed serious therapy and i hope they don’t stay together, at least for the time being.
the one good thing i have to say about this book is the writing, it makes you feel, the pain, the terror, the chemistry.
the fact that it got me pent up enough to write this review is an indication of good writing, it just kinda gets washed out but all the awfulness.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Outing, Hate crime, Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Grief
bugcollector's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
קיוויתי יותר ל"הפכת מאויב לאוהב" ובמקום זה קיבלתי הערות צד של גבריות יתר, סקסיזם, דמויות לא מבושלות, הטפה נוצרית, והתעללות מסיבית.
אתן להם את זה שיחסית לספר רומנטי, בסוף לא כולם קיבלו אותם (כלומר, אף אחד לא קיבל אותם)
זה לא לאבי דאבי כמו בדרכ, ובזה הכותבת שונה ומיוחדת
לסיכום אני יכולה להאשים רק את עצמי על הקריאה הזאת😔
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Child abuse
lady_moon's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That was so messed up lmao 😭😂 People are all about "hurt my beloved, I hurt you" or "touch them and I'll kill you" but here is "no one but ME can hurt my beloved"
Also, because I can't:
Roman: *a jerk, a bully, anon arrogant prick, insults Jonah in his first day, use his sister for dirty jokes to annoy Jonah, calls him the f-slur, but is just so attractive*
Jonah: I have a feeling I'll fall in love with him
Like, JohNA 😭😂 Pls, what attraction do to you, allo people, I'm getting really concerned here. This was so dub-con but jokes on you, I'm into that shit. Sometimes. I'll close my eyes for some other stuff that happened here because it was messed up as hell but it was also really damn entertaining. And it was exactly what I expected it to be so no surprise here.
Bullies to lovers in real life are a hella big no but in fiction they're oddly appealing. Probably because it's a sub-trope to enemies to lovers and that's my favorite trope. But rivals to lovers, another sub-trope of it, just lacks something the other two have. I can't explain it, there's just something that doesn't work the same way here as with the other two. Anyway, strong, very close to toxic, bullies to lovers here, it is what it is.
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
akramer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Review:
I hate him, but I have a feeling before the end of the year, I’m going to fall in love with him. I’m not sure why. He’s given me no reason to think otherwise, but there’s something about him that calls to me. I hate him for that too.
Refusing to look away from him, I won’t let him hide from this. He has to face what he’s doing to me. If I’m his victim, he will face the monstrosity of his actions.
Giving the tunnel one last look, I walk back to the table to clean up my trash, the dead leaves and sticks crunching under my Vans. The wind picks up, and my skin pebbles with goose bumps. There’s something here. Call it a spirit or a ghost. There was violence here, and it hasn’t left. Evil leaves a mark that rain can’t wash away.
Dad is smiling now. The little boy inside me that’s always wanted his dad to love him brightens at the attention. That little boy loves his daddy. He just wants to make Daddy proud. “I’m proud of you.” I hate that little boy.
He won’t let me in, won’t let me help. I’m useless and I hate it, but I refuse to give up. I’ll keep being here for him. Maybe once the funeral is over, he’ll hate-fuck me and get it out of his system.
“Jonah Cohen, I love you.” My smile is so big it hurts my cheeks, but I don’t stop. Roman jumps down from the stage, grips the back of my neck, and kisses me. Right there in front of God and everybody, he claims me.”
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts