dynasty404's review
5.0
Loved it :)
The book was beautifully written and with the best characters. There’s always someone you can relate to - for me personally that’s Santi by the way he always accidentally fucks up and is always full of regret, wanting to make things right but not exactly sure how to.
The book takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the characters journeys and experiences. While you experience one persons emotions, you constantly wonder about the other.
Lip Min please write another book!!!!!!!
The book was beautifully written and with the best characters. There’s always someone you can relate to - for me personally that’s Santi by the way he always accidentally fucks up and is always full of regret, wanting to make things right but not exactly sure how to.
The book takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the characters journeys and experiences. While you experience one persons emotions, you constantly wonder about the other.
Lip Min please write another book!!!!!!!
_desertbookreader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
A beautiful romance about anime, music, Internet friends and the power of connection and facing the truth! I loved every minute of it and loved the romance
linren16's review
hopeful
reflective
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
3.25
woolandthyme's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tamamorii's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
anthsu's review
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
feiticeira's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
ebyrne505's review
3.0
I liked this book, but just didn’t love it. I did absolutely love the inclusion of super diverse characters, the queer relationships and representation, and the story about the characters’ time in high school band.
This narrative was split into two sections, with the first told from Santi’s POV and the second from Suwa’s. I was hooked in the first half - Santi is a lovable character and i was rooting for him the whole time. However, the time at which the PoV switched really threw me off. It was directly in the middle/almost after the climax of the story, and Suwa’s POV takeover didn’t continue on from that story, but rather skipped ahead in time. This definitely made the conflict fall a little flat for me - the love story of these two characters is my favorite thing about the book, and it was totally skipped over for a while. This could also feel flat because I listened to the audiobook, but i doubt that is the case. Because of Suwa’s mindset, I had a really hard time believing he was one of the “good guys” and felt Santi kinda deserved better. This part also focused mostly on his music, so there was way less of a focus in the friend group, band, family, or even his personal growth (which I wanted to see that discovered more explicitly).
The ending was a tiny bit disappointing; I wanted there to be a label on the relationship at the very end, some sort of confirmation of the relationship or love for each other. It seemed like there was another chapter coming or more to the story, as I didn’t feel like this was really resolved. I was left wondering if Suwa matured emotionally enough to tell Santi he loved him. Or, what happened with their sisters?! What about their friends? Some of the side characters felt a little flat, so it would’ve been nice to see what happened to them at the end.
I enjoyed the story for the most part and sped through the book in a couple of days. I liked that the chapters were set up like two sides of a record with tracks as the chapters. Overall, I would recommend this to other YA lovers, especially because I love the focus on Japanese/Filipino main characters, queer relationships (the main being cisgender queer male & trans male), the unique inclusion of music, and the coming-of-age/romance.
This narrative was split into two sections, with the first told from Santi’s POV and the second from Suwa’s. I was hooked in the first half - Santi is a lovable character and i was rooting for him the whole time. However, the time at which the PoV switched really threw me off. It was directly in the middle/almost after the climax of the story, and Suwa’s POV takeover didn’t continue on from that story, but rather skipped ahead in time. This definitely made the conflict fall a little flat for me - the love story of these two characters is my favorite thing about the book, and it was totally skipped over for a while. This could also feel flat because I listened to the audiobook, but i doubt that is the case. Because of Suwa’s mindset, I had a really hard time believing he was one of the “good guys” and felt Santi kinda deserved better. This part also focused mostly on his music, so there was way less of a focus in the friend group, band, family, or even his personal growth (which I wanted to see that discovered more explicitly).
The ending was a tiny bit disappointing; I wanted there to be a label on the relationship at the very end, some sort of confirmation of the relationship or love for each other. It seemed like there was another chapter coming or more to the story, as I didn’t feel like this was really resolved. I was left wondering if Suwa matured emotionally enough to tell Santi he loved him. Or, what happened with their sisters?! What about their friends? Some of the side characters felt a little flat, so it would’ve been nice to see what happened to them at the end.
I enjoyed the story for the most part and sped through the book in a couple of days. I liked that the chapters were set up like two sides of a record with tracks as the chapters. Overall, I would recommend this to other YA lovers, especially because I love the focus on Japanese/Filipino main characters, queer relationships (the main being cisgender queer male & trans male), the unique inclusion of music, and the coming-of-age/romance.
ficklefever's review
4.0
you ever read something that feels so genuinely, deeply, earnestly from the heart that you breeze through it in two days? yeah. this is that: a beautiful sweeping love letter to indie music, anime, internet friendships, high school marching band, and los angeles -- all wrapped up in a gay coming of age enemies-to-lovers (then back-to-enemies-to-lovers) romance.
yeah, the "twist" halfway thru could be seen a mile away. did it affect the overall impact of the book? not at all. and the later chapters back this up by affirming that the twist was kind of known by everyone involved.... the important part is how the twist is resolved.
i love love love when i read a good YA book because it reminds me why i fell in love with reading in the first place.
ALSO I LOVE A GREAT LAST LINE AND THIS HAD A GREAT LAST LINE
yeah, the "twist" halfway thru could be seen a mile away. did it affect the overall impact of the book? not at all. and the later chapters back this up by affirming that the twist was kind of known by everyone involved.... the important part is how the twist is resolved.
i love love love when i read a good YA book because it reminds me why i fell in love with reading in the first place.
ALSO I LOVE A GREAT LAST LINE AND THIS HAD A GREAT LAST LINE
tatotaters's review
5.0
The Side A and Side B sections???? and Track numbers for chapters??? and the pov swap???? amazing spectacular