fanboyriot's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Bullying, Ableism, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Violence, Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Cursing, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Body shaming, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Medical content, Racism, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Drug use, Blood, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
goodbyedarling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Dysphoria, Transphobia, Hate crime, Deadnaming, Ableism, Misogyny, Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief
pernafet's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
However, Jeremy was quite an infuriating character. Though there was a point at the very beginning when I realized that you’re not necessarily supposed to love him, that didn’t make him much less insufferable at certain parts throughout this book. There are parts in the story where you kind of just want to crumple the page in your hand or even wish you could just dive into the story yourself and strangle him <3. But I do get what the author was trying to do with his character. Jeremy has built up this facade for himself throughout his transition whereas he will hurt others before they can hurt him. This is his coping mechanism. This is his way of hiding all his hurt, pain, insecurities, and gender dysphoria by making everyone around him think he’s overflowing with confidence when, really, he is the complete opposite. He is consistently drowning in his own self loathing throughout the book. There are parts of this story where he talks about his dysphoria that are so raw and real that my heart ached for him. Although Jeremy was a real a-hole for the most part, I actually appreciated him as a character. I found him quite interesting. Teenagers aren’t always good people.
I really liked Lukas. It was nice getting an insight into his mind and understanding why he does certain things. Seeing him really beat himself up for not being able to live up to his brother’s accomplishments and feeling like he isn’t good enough for his family really made me feel sad.
Both these characters make some really horrible and irritating decisions in this book but really…who doesn’t?? I’m sure everyone can look back on some point in their life where they made a series of god awful, humiliating, and downright horrendous decisions that they are able to laugh about now. Everyone experiences their own journey of navigating their insecurities, battling with self-loathing, and eventually learning how to appreciate and love yourself just the way you are. Especially as a teenager.
The ending of this book was also super cute :)
Graphic: Dysphoria and Transphobia
Minor: Grief and Death
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
This book is also about the shitty things people will do to each other, and the importance of learning and making amends. There's a wide span of friendship issues, family issues, and high school administration issues. I liked that the major subplot of fighting to amend the Code of Conduct to include verbal bullying and harrassment was given a lot of page time. I also love how the whole Homecoming Court vote shook out.
Graphic: Transphobia, Bullying, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Violence, Deadnaming, and Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Death, and Car accident
bruhbruh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Transphobia and Racism
Moderate: Grief and Racial slurs
gigi785's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Transphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, and Homophobia
Moderate: Child death, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body shaming, and Sexual assault
Minor: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
love_bookswillbetheendofme's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
mals_library's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, Alcohol, Child death, and Grief
paskendus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was an interesting read in a way, especially seeing teenagers showing anger and even being spiteful as a self preservation technique, but my oh my how they did not communicate. With each other or the adults. And the adults were... passive at best, so all around people just trying to survive on assumptions.
The writing felt repetitive at times and overly dramatic for my taste. I also did not feel a lot while reading the book, I got what the author wanted me to feel, but I just didn't. Characters made correct, good conclusions after something happening but I just did not see how they got there, that may be on me and lack of investment. I also think it was preachy and very on the nose at times.
And honestly I did not like the ending after all the messy things that happened everyone should have gotten some therapy to work through at least some of their personal stuff before being all lovie dovie. Or I at least would have loved to see the resolving their problems more.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Ableism, Homophobia, Grief, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Alcohol, and Lesbophobia
longlost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. Autistic rep AND queer rep ?? All I want in life. Unfortunately I just could not vibe with the book or its characters.
Lukas and Jeremy's relationship was not enjoyable to read about during most points of the book. It came off as TOO mean-spirited so so often and I genuinely don't see why
I DID enjoy the queer power message in this book, and while I didn't enjoy the shitty school system it also reflects reality unfortunately so. I wish I could have liked this book more because I'm 100% behind Jeremy's fight to change the Code so that the harassment he's facing is Actually Acknowledged but I couldn't stand the main plot of fighting over the Homecoming crown even if I could sympathize with both character's motivations. The actions they took against each other just felt too mean-spirited.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Ableism, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Grief, Dysphoria, Cursing, Misogyny, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Blood, Death, Racism, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail