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liam_s's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
luwillreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- 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
3.25
philbatross's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
paidays's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really procrastinated reading this book because I thought it would be heavy, but I ended up really loving it. Does adolescence justice in a way that is honest, meaningful, dignified, and still very real and funny. The kids are all right.
skeltonse's review against another edition
4.0
The funniest crying fit you’ll ever have. its Like if complicated kindness had an optimistic ending.
amyzaza's review against another edition
might come back to this at some point, felt a little too dry and reflective for what i want rn
blaineduncan's review against another edition
2.0
Tupelo Hassman’s recent novel gods with a little g wants to be a lot of things at once. The overarching attempt causes it to be very little instead.
The book, described by Lydia Netzer as “a story to read when you are starving to connect,” relies on narrative tropes that do nothing to shine a new light on the angsty world of teenage years. The story centers on Helen (or “Hell” for short, because why avoid the obvious?), who is a young lady in the city of Rosary (again, obvious) and who lost her mother to cancer a few years before the narrative begins. She’s stuck with her evangelically religious dad — a prospective plot line that is never explored — and her group of friends intelligently labeled “the Dickheads” by everyone else at school. They drink, they fight, they fall for one another. Eventually, Helen, though almost literally trapped in uber-religious Rosary meets the lunky Winthrop. And despite being always attracted to the jerk Bird, she still feels drawn to Winthrop. See where this is going?
Read the rest of this review and more at https://www.thealabamatake.com
The book, described by Lydia Netzer as “a story to read when you are starving to connect,” relies on narrative tropes that do nothing to shine a new light on the angsty world of teenage years. The story centers on Helen (or “Hell” for short, because why avoid the obvious?), who is a young lady in the city of Rosary (again, obvious) and who lost her mother to cancer a few years before the narrative begins. She’s stuck with her evangelically religious dad — a prospective plot line that is never explored — and her group of friends intelligently labeled “the Dickheads” by everyone else at school. They drink, they fight, they fall for one another. Eventually, Helen, though almost literally trapped in uber-religious Rosary meets the lunky Winthrop. And despite being always attracted to the jerk Bird, she still feels drawn to Winthrop. See where this is going?
Read the rest of this review and more at https://www.thealabamatake.com
areidbarnes's review
3.0
Predictable story but insanely cool style. Want to read her other books!
Shelved for LGBTQIA+ representation, though not a queer story
Shelved for LGBTQIA+ representation, though not a queer story
adearajean's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A gritty novel written in a poetic style. Very metaphorical and stylized. Strong characters with humor. A little angsty at times but charming.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Deadnaming, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
caitfoges's review against another edition
4.0
~ 3.5 ~
I really liked this book at the beginning, impressed by each cleverly-named and surprisingly poetic chapter, full of raw emotions and unflinching depictions of events. The main character Helen encompasses the perfect amount of snarkiness and warmth, and experiences a satisfying level of personal growth throughout the novel. My biggest complaint is that the lack of substantial plot in some sections caused the pages to drag on a fair bit. Furthermore, some of the plot points that were included felt unnecessarily obscene in my opinion.
I really liked this book at the beginning, impressed by each cleverly-named and surprisingly poetic chapter, full of raw emotions and unflinching depictions of events. The main character Helen encompasses the perfect amount of snarkiness and warmth, and experiences a satisfying level of personal growth throughout the novel. My biggest complaint is that the lack of substantial plot in some sections caused the pages to drag on a fair bit. Furthermore, some of the plot points that were included felt unnecessarily obscene in my opinion.