mrmarshall591's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
I am wary of books and movies that play around with the concept of time as they can either make me very disappointed and frustrated or they can intrigue and excite me- the former is occurs more often. This book though was the latter! I have so many unanswered questions and some confusion though that I probably will think about for so long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Homophobia, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Lesbophobia, Vomit, Excrement, Animal death, Drug use, and Classism
dojipengin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Grief, Violence, Abandonment, and Racism
Minor: Transphobia, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Vomit
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Vomit, Blood, Car accident, Alcoholism, Grief, Classism, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Biphobia
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Vomit, Grief, Hate crime, Alcohol, Death, and Car accident
rachelelouise's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.75
I LOVED this book. If you like Casey McQuiston’s other books you’ll like this, but I thought it was even better than Red, White, and Royal Blue. I found it to be much more real and compelling, and the characters were much more relatable to me: they’re capital Q Queer, they’re radicals, they’re service workers, they have mom trauma, etc. This book made me swoon, laugh, cry, and long to go to a drag show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Police brutality, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Cursing, Death, and Racism
emory's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Would like to start by saying I'm really annoyed at whoever did the cover art for not knowing what "butch" means.
Secondly, this book was squarely not for me. Which surprised me, because I really enjoyed another book by this author; this makes me think that that was simply because I was 18 years old and maybe a little stupid at the time.
I don't normally read romance; just not for me, but I was looking for something to fit a reading challenge prompt and of course I was excited about one of the only (popular I wasnt doing deep dives) sapphic romance novels I could find that actually featured a masculine woman instead of two feminine women. So much praise for that by the way.
As for the writing itself, the narration has a truly unique tone and voice, but the problem is that it became extremely grating to me after a few chapters. Bunches of detailed lists may set the scene, but it does not make for good writing. It's just lousy with gerunds and dependent clauses and unnecessary "quotable" moments. Oh god the unnecessary quotable moments. The writing will be heartfelt and be genuinely nice to read, and you'll be pulled out of it for a quip or for what truly feels like a sentence shoved through a square hole in an attempt to get it highlighted and put on the Goodreads quotes page.
I enjoyed the plot and was drawn in by the premise. The execution left a bit to be desired, however, as instead of developing the actually compelling and thoughtful conflict that the main characters have, McQuiston opts instead to shove that into a single conversation that our main character herself can tell is caused by ridiculous reasons and is resolved by, get this, The interesting conflict gets sidelined to the formulaic temporary breakup, and our author opts instead to drive the story and main romance forward with the fact that our protagonist feels a completely absurd uncertainty about whether she and Jane are still just friends. She honest to God still calls them friends The book could have easily been 100+ pages shorter; to draw it out while the main character paces back and forth wondering if the out lesbian who is constantly hitting on her and literally actually making out with her ~likes her that way~ is inane. I understand that was purposeful and for comedic effect, but it doesn't make it any less ridiculous.
The subplots tie together in what is ultimately a predictable but still cute and satisfying way, even if I wish it had happened a little faster. I enjoy the element of August finding a family at the same time as she finds a romance, but I wish it felt earned. She's very much just dropped in and absorbed into a friend group, and I'd say more than half of this takes place "off screen". Honestly though, I don't know if I would have wanted it to be part of the novel anyway. It feels mean to say, but I just think I'm entirely above the age demographic for this book, despite the fact that I'm younger than it's protagonists. The characters whose friend group August, the main character, falls into, are written to be quirky and silly. Most of the time this just comes off as obnoxious. It feels as if almost every piece of their dialogue and quite a few of the narrative quips from August's POV are ripped from some viral tweet or meme. Certainly many of the punchlines are. It starts to feel like a quota of the amount of things you can get a tiktoker to say "hey, I know that one!" to. McQuiston is playing all the hits, such as, off the top of head based on eye roll severity: "that little twink contains multitudes", "big dick energy is gender neutral", "you useless [sexuality]", "homoerotic queer girl friendship", "gay panic" [to refer to being nervous around a crush -_-], "the [x] jumped out", and we even get a so what's the deal with House Hunters, am I right? Didn't laugh when I saw it on a meme repost page, am not laughing now. The author is too caught up in trying to make every character fill in enough quirky bubbles to realize that having a person you just met say "oh, so that's your problem. I was wondering" after telling them something sensitive about yourself is kind of... horrifying, actually? Lots of joking in here comes across as a little mean spirited when you remember that these characters supposedly just met one another.
I can't say the same for August and Jane. McQuiston really does write their relationship full of chemistry and sweet interactions, and it kept me wanting to read despite being a bit irritated with other aspects of the book. Their feelings are very well put with so much heart behind them... as long as they're not some joke about how nervous August is (remember about the quips pulling you out of an otherwise adeptly written paragraph?). My biggest complaint is that while August is described pretty heavily, her actions directly contradict her early characterization.. I was a fan of the unique backstory, but wish it amounted to more than a wacky setup for a punchline about liking true crime and being a detective. Additionally, I can accept that it wasn't meant to be that deep, but it's still a bit annoying. As for Jane, I only wish there were aspects of her personality that shone through without the narrative having to explain why she had that trait and what it means. Quite a bit felt like an afterthought, including her being from the 70s, which is a bit of a big deal...
Other complaints in list form bc I'm tired of typing about something I didn't enjoy and shouldn't have read in the first place: hamfistedly boring attempt to "make New York a character", the brushing over of how many differences a lesbian from the 70s and a bi girl from today would have to bridge, Myla definitely had some weird characterization , piss poor explanation of how the time travel worked, etc etc.
Very nitpicky, I realize, but that's what happens when I read 400 pages of something I started getting annoyed with about 1/4 of the way in. Fine for what it is, not for me. Would like to congratulate the author, though, for writing a romance between two characters that was cute and compelling enough it not only made me want to drag my way through a book I wasn't really enjoying, but also made me look past the fact that Think I'm for sure done giving romance novels a try, though.
Secondly, this book was squarely not for me. Which surprised me, because I really enjoyed another book by this author; this makes me think that that was simply because I was 18 years old and maybe a little stupid at the time.
I don't normally read romance; just not for me, but I was looking for something to fit a reading challenge prompt and of course I was excited about one of the only (popular I wasnt doing deep dives) sapphic romance novels I could find that actually featured a masculine woman instead of two feminine women. So much praise for that by the way.
As for the writing itself, the narration has a truly unique tone and voice, but the problem is that it became extremely grating to me after a few chapters. Bunches of detailed lists may set the scene, but it does not make for good writing. It's just lousy with gerunds and dependent clauses and unnecessary "quotable" moments. Oh god the unnecessary quotable moments. The writing will be heartfelt and be genuinely nice to read, and you'll be pulled out of it for a quip or for what truly feels like a sentence shoved through a square hole in an attempt to get it highlighted and put on the Goodreads quotes page.
I enjoyed the plot and was drawn in by the premise. The execution left a bit to be desired, however, as instead of developing the actually compelling and thoughtful conflict that the main characters have, McQuiston opts instead to shove that into a single conversation that our main character herself can tell is caused by ridiculous reasons and is resolved by, get this,
Spoiler
not talking to each other until they both start to feel bad about it.Spoiler
after they have literally had sex.The subplots tie together in what is ultimately a predictable but still cute and satisfying way, even if I wish it had happened a little faster. I enjoy the element of August finding a family at the same time as she finds a romance, but I wish it felt earned. She's very much just dropped in and absorbed into a friend group, and I'd say more than half of this takes place "off screen". Honestly though, I don't know if I would have wanted it to be part of the novel anyway. It feels mean to say, but I just think I'm entirely above the age demographic for this book, despite the fact that I'm younger than it's protagonists. The characters whose friend group August, the main character, falls into, are written to be quirky and silly. Most of the time this just comes off as obnoxious. It feels as if almost every piece of their dialogue and quite a few of the narrative quips from August's POV are ripped from some viral tweet or meme. Certainly many of the punchlines are. It starts to feel like a quota of the amount of things you can get a tiktoker to say "hey, I know that one!" to. McQuiston is playing all the hits, such as, off the top of head based on eye roll severity: "that little twink contains multitudes", "big dick energy is gender neutral", "you useless [sexuality]", "homoerotic queer girl friendship", "gay panic" [to refer to being nervous around a crush -_-], "the [x] jumped out", and we even get a so what's the deal with House Hunters, am I right? Didn't laugh when I saw it on a meme repost page, am not laughing now. The author is too caught up in trying to make every character fill in enough quirky bubbles to realize that having a person you just met say "oh, so that's your problem. I was wondering" after telling them something sensitive about yourself is kind of... horrifying, actually? Lots of joking in here comes across as a little mean spirited when you remember that these characters supposedly just met one another.
I can't say the same for August and Jane. McQuiston really does write their relationship full of chemistry and sweet interactions, and it kept me wanting to read despite being a bit irritated with other aspects of the book. Their feelings are very well put with so much heart behind them... as long as they're not some joke about how nervous August is (remember about the quips pulling you out of an otherwise adeptly written paragraph?). My biggest complaint is that while August is described pretty heavily, her actions directly contradict her early characterization.
Spoiler
Described as anxious and eager to isolate herself, she throws herself into and immediately makes friends with all her new roomates, sitting in the living room just to casually chat about her missing uncle. We're told she's skeptical and logical, but she almost immediately believes Niko's psychic ability and her first theory of what's going on with Jane is vampirism. We're told she's depressed but she juggles new roomates, a romance, a job, classwork, and solving a mystery expertly.Spoiler
while it is set up that August faces borderline neglect from her mother, this is not condemned by the narrative; again, it is on a surface level, but in the end, her mother forcing her to obsess over her missing uncle pays off by getting her a girlfriend, finding her uncle, and then bringing her a freelance investigator job--apparently her life's purpose!Other complaints in list form bc I'm tired of typing about something I didn't enjoy and shouldn't have read in the first place: hamfistedly boring attempt to "make New York a character", the brushing over of how many differences a lesbian from the 70s and a bi girl from today would have to bridge, Myla definitely had some weird characterization , piss poor explanation of how the time travel worked, etc etc.
Very nitpicky, I realize, but that's what happens when I read 400 pages of something I started getting annoyed with about 1/4 of the way in. Fine for what it is, not for me. Would like to congratulate the author, though, for writing a romance between two characters that was cute and compelling enough it not only made me want to drag my way through a book I wasn't really enjoying, but also made me look past the fact that
Spoiler
they fuck on the subway.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Car accident, and Drug use
grets_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Car accident, and Abandonment
nehanaomi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Cursing, and Drug use
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Vomit, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
sarah_cameron's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Okay I really loved this book
It was incredibly tender and sweet. A slowburn, gorgeously written epic-romance, and damn I have never believed in soulmates more
McQuiston has a way of making a story both simple and complicated and just so real. I loved RW&RB because I could escape into this other world where life changing politics and romances were possible, but I loved this book because it was so genuine. Despite the sci-fi element, it was so grounded in real emotions and experiences and reactions and relationships and found family that just seemed true and relatable and cathartic and I’m so jealous of anyone who gets to read this book for the first time
It was weirdly healing, and just gahhh
There are also a number of topics tackled realistically but in a gentle way that, despite the historical (and residual and current) trauma, are handled carefully and in a way that leaves you optimistic. Within this, I would note CWs for homophobia, hate crimes, racism, and fire injury/death
Finally, the secondary characters are so vibrant and well fleshed out and queer and just wonderful. I love the community they form and their relationship to our protagonist but also to so many other people and places, and they really do add to the story and the warm feeling you get every time you pick it up
Basically, please read this book. It’s the epic sapphic romance we all deserve, and I can’t wait to read more from McQuiston in the future
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Alcoholism
mmikenaite's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, and Drug use