Reviews

The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong

bhagestedt's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

erinprysiazzzz's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

snarkycrafter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

3.5

This book was really weird. I was really confused when

the timelines merged lol

. That said, it was really sad to see Benson trying to reconciling cope with his childhood trauma by writing/rewriting his story in a more positive manner. What’s even sadder is

that ultimately he felt he could not escape it and decided to end his own life

. 

 

I felt really bad for Benny when

he had to return to his own timeline and it felt like he still needed to take care of himself

. Like, no one other than his grandmother was ever really there to protect him.

Overall, really enjoyable read. The writing was beautiful, and the way the story developed felt very unique.

fishneys's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

lee_noel's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jsrogers123's review against another edition

5.0

Men would rather write a semi autobiographical account of their trauma and accidentally summon their 12 year old stand in character to their home then go to therapy

daumari's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

3.0

 

upfront: CW for child sexual abuse and suicidal ideation (this is also mentioned in an author's note at the beginning which is helpful). Queer tag is for a side character and not just the abuser.

A short work that bends a bit recursively, where Benson Yu, a comics artist in the 2020s writes prose fiction about Benny, a fictionalized version of himself in the 1980s as he processes childhood traumas but modifying, perhaps what could have been had his abuser been different. At some point, the narrative comes into Benson's life and how to repair as an adult?

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicide

horrorlesbo's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

karenpr's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.25

benebene's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad

4.25