chloesbookshelf028's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this book was the wisest but also the silliest thing i've ever read.
the quotes and reflections? chef's kiss. the eating disorder representation? amazing. the weird supernatural ability stuff? so. weird. it was so irritating.
this book says some of the wisest lines that i've ever heard, and in the next paragraph the protagonist is controlling pigs and seeing the future. what is this??
i constantly switched between adoring this book and wanting to dnf it because of just how silly it was. this book combined one of the most real topics ever (eating disorders and depression) with the most fantastical supernatural garbage there is and it threw me off because it wasn't done quite well enough.
i could've loved this book, but the story was simply... something else and i couldn't handle it. but maybe someone else can.
the quotes and reflections? chef's kiss. the eating disorder representation? amazing. the weird supernatural ability stuff? so. weird. it was so irritating.
this book says some of the wisest lines that i've ever heard, and in the next paragraph the protagonist is controlling pigs and seeing the future. what is this??
i constantly switched between adoring this book and wanting to dnf it because of just how silly it was. this book combined one of the most real topics ever (eating disorders and depression) with the most fantastical supernatural garbage there is and it threw me off because it wasn't done quite well enough.
i could've loved this book, but the story was simply... something else and i couldn't handle it. but maybe someone else can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Domestic abuse and Outing
priya_haha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
just___iva's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
mxinky's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. It's my favorite YA read in a long time.
Sam is not content to give you a feel-good page-turner, Sam wants to change you with this novel, and he will, if you read it.
The mother character in The Art of Starving amazed me. I've never seen anyone quite like her. The richness of Matt's relationship with his mom will stay with me for a long time.
Matt's struggles are intensely real. This isn't a kid with one problem; he has layers of problems. He searches to understand them, yet desperately wants to act on (some of) them. Now.
You should pick this one up. Sam is going places and you can say you knew him when.
Sam is not content to give you a feel-good page-turner, Sam wants to change you with this novel, and he will, if you read it.
The mother character in The Art of Starving amazed me. I've never seen anyone quite like her. The richness of Matt's relationship with his mom will stay with me for a long time.
Matt's struggles are intensely real. This isn't a kid with one problem; he has layers of problems. He searches to understand them, yet desperately wants to act on (some of) them. Now.
You should pick this one up. Sam is going places and you can say you knew him when.
violetspider's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
The rawness of this book. The good, the bad, and the ugly it has. It’s all just beautiful and emotional at the same time. The realness of life and the lack of control we have over it. The only control we have is over ourselves. And yet even then we feel as though we don’t have control over that either.
I love this book. And I’m never letting it go.
If you’re seeing this comment and you suffer from an ED, please take care of yourself and don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek help.
I love this book. And I’m never letting it go.
If you’re seeing this comment and you suffer from an ED, please take care of yourself and don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek help.
nincoompoop's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, and Bullying
ninahei's review against another edition
4.0
Such a brilliant read! I really enjoyed this one. definitely saw some glimpses of my teenage self. 1 star taken for the weird supernatural bits that destroyed this book a bit for me.