m_hates_reading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A queer, first-love romance, but set in 1989 New York and based in the AIDS crisis - it’s one of the most moving books I’ve read. It’s been sat on my bookshelf since I originally came out in 2020, and I never bothered to read it until now. Im actually glad I didn’t read it when I first got it, bc I don’t think I would have been able to appreciate the imagery and symbolism as well.
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism
just_one_more_paige's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content
hannahmayhere's review
- 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
4.25
*explanation content warning on aphobia* one character does say a few times some aphobic lines ( sex is needed for a relationship, sex is ultimate goal of all relationships, everyone wants it, etc.) and it goes unchallenged because they are the character’s thoughts. Part of this could be explained as he is a high schooler grappling with fear due to the AIDS epidemic but it still read as invalidating. So just a warning to fellow aces!
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, and Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Islamophobia
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Ableism
tinana's review
- 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: Bullying, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Violence, and Vomit
hmatt'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
Where I had a small issue was with the main point of conflict - it just felt very contrived to me.
Spoiler
I guess I just didn't buy in that it would be such a big deal to Judy that Art had a crush on Reza, acted on before she and Reza started dating, was rejected, and then kept his distance for the duration of their relationship. It's believable that she would be upset to some degree, but the extent it went to didn't make a lot of sense to me.Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Medical content, Police brutality, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
achingallover's review
- 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
3.0
Spoiler
I however didn't totally get why Judy was so angry with Art. I initially thought it was because she thought Reza and Art had been cheating on her together, and was a miscommunication. But Art hadn't acted on his feelings after Reza shut him down before his first date with Judy, so like, I really don't get that he'd done anything wrong? I understand the upset that Reza had used her in a way, but I don't see what Art had done that was so awful that she wouldn't speak to him for 6 months. Art was an interesting character, but could have done with some character development, and I'm not sure his POV added much given that he didn't seem to learn much throughout the book. I also didn't like how much pressure he put on Reza about sex, even whilst saying he wouldn't pressure him.Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism and Religious bigotry
alisazhup's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, Police brutality, and Suicide
zimmie's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical content, and Police brutality
Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Violence