le3713's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
eralbesu's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Murder, Abortion, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Cultural appropriation, Lesbophobia, and Xenophobia
oodles17'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
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Gun violence, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Abortion, and Racism
flashandoutbreak'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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Car accident, Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Abortion and Self harm
jillgoober'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
5.0
This story is certainly more character-driven than plot-driven, so if that's not your thing, you may not love this book as much as I did. I found the two main characters, Sadie and Sam, incredibly intriguing. They are both deeply flawed and, in my opinion, highly relatable (especially Sadie, in my own case). Sadie is stubborn, a perfectionist, and profoundly insecure. These traits both help and hurt her when both creating video games and maintaining her friendship with Sam. Sam, on the other hand, is more self-centered, a little oblivious, and also profoundly insecure. There are times when he just can't comprehend why another person (read: Sadie) may be acting a certain way. Despite their similar interests, Sadie and Sam's personalities often clash, creating issues for their friendship throughout the novel.
Despite not being a huge video game person, I still enjoyed the points in this book where gaming was discussed in depth. If you are similar to me in this way, you would probably still enjoy this book and if you ARE a gamer, you will probably enjoy it all the more.
My favorite little tidbits of this book were when literature, Shakespeare, or theatre were mentioned (of course). I loved the concept that, in order to make a good video game with a good story, you needed to have some literary background. I also really want to play Sadie's game Master of the Revels, especially the expansion version involving Macbeth. I am truly pissed that it's not a real game!!
Without giving away spoilers, this book is often sad, dark, and heartbreaking. I definitely teared up a few times. However, I think the vast majority of the reading (and gaming) community would appreciate this novel. Highly recommend.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Terminal illness and Abortion
marpaige'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
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
northernfleabag's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Confinement, Cancer, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Drug use, and Injury/injury detail
ajhowe2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Body horror, Racism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
lemonflower'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/injury detail, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Cancer, Misogyny, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
martapsalvado'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
Loved some chapters but some of them didn't work for me (especially the second to last). I don't know much about gaming, but, for my surprise, I liked reading about the process of making a game, in addition to other themes that are greatly explored in this book like friendship and the development of the characters for 20+ years.
Overall a good immersive read, though, for me, it could be a little more fast paced.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Racism, Cancer, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Cultural appropriation, and Abortion