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historianvik's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed like 95% of the book. The plot was interesting and I loved how the characters were built. I hadn't seen the music video before (watched it after I read the book) so it was all new to me. I think things were too fast towards the end. I like how Curtis wasn't villianized and actually present. I wanted more from the ending i wanted curtis's reaction and to read about the consequences of trenton's actions. Also how Colby and Sonia naviagted school beyond the summer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Homophobia
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, and Addiction
britt_zonnebloempit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to love this more. I truly do. The Girls Like Girls video was my life! But this was so so so toxic. There's so much alcohol and drug abuse, it's not even funny. I truly think that beating Trenton up was a bad choice. Coley truly was a good girl, despite her past, but she stooped to Trenton's level and I felt like a disappointed parent upon reading it. Both Sonya and Blake were bad for her, only getting her into bad situations, and though I understand her rebound moment with Blake I definitely don't understand her getting with Sonya...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, and Addiction
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
beffynicole's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This book deserved to be so much more but unfortunately, it left me feeling so conflicted that honestly, I'm not sure if it deserves a lower or higher rating.
It kept me engaged and discussed a lot of great topics, such as coming out, misogyny, "boys will be boys", mental health, and complicated family relationships.
But the writing for a lot of the book was so bad and just was unable to keep myself connected. Sonya was extremely one-dimensional whereas Coley had a lot of depth. I couldn't figure out why Coley even liked Sonya to begin with. We saw a little bit of their friendship but not a ton and Sonya was truly terrible so much. I also don't think that she is that dumb that she truly believes "that's just how all guys are." It's one thing to have a trauma response or rose-tinted glasses, but this was another level.
I'm also sick of writers writing about small towns terribly. I don't know if the author has spent a lot of time in a small town but it felt very out of touch. I shouldn't have to withhold belief so much for a contemporary book. Even in small towns, no 17-year-old boy won't let you put anti-itch cream on if it's pink. He might complain but come on.
Also the ending just killed this for me. I get it, not everything has to have a happy ending, but I feel like there wasn't really a resolve? Personally, I think this would have done far better if it wasn't pushed as a romance book, but instead a story of self-exploration and the story of Coley coming out to her dad and such. Like her relationship with her dad was get (though again, really jumped around sometimes and wasn't super realistic).
It kept me engaged and discussed a lot of great topics, such as coming out, misogyny, "boys will be boys", mental health, and complicated family relationships.
But the writing for a lot of the book was so bad and just was unable to keep myself connected. Sonya was extremely one-dimensional whereas Coley had a lot of depth. I couldn't figure out why Coley even liked Sonya to begin with. We saw a little bit of their friendship but not a ton and Sonya was truly terrible so much. I also don't think that she is that dumb that she truly believes "that's just how all guys are." It's one thing to have a trauma response or rose-tinted glasses, but this was another level.
I'm also sick of writers writing about small towns terribly. I don't know if the author has spent a lot of time in a small town but it felt very out of touch. I shouldn't have to withhold belief so much for a contemporary book. Even in small towns, no 17-year-old boy won't let you put anti-itch cream on if it's pink. He might complain but come on.
Also the ending just killed this for me. I get it, not everything has to have a happy ending, but I feel like there wasn't really a resolve? Personally, I think this would have done far better if it wasn't pushed as a romance book, but instead a story of self-exploration and the story of Coley coming out to her dad and such. Like her relationship with her dad was get (though again, really jumped around sometimes and wasn't super realistic).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Suicide
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