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ekeiser8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
veggitorian's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
roughdraftofmylife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
feministmidwife's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
freddybingsu's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction and Fire/Fire injury
forrestalexander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't know what to expect and I like the concept, but in my opinion, it didn't follow through.
As someone else said, the book is too short to properly address the multitude of issues it presented.
The book touches on:
- a gay main character with unaccepting parents
- religious trauma
- conversion therapy and the resulting trauma
- domestic abuse, toxic and abusive relationships
- manipulation and general abuse
- rape, sexual assault, and casual sexual harassment
- drug abuse
- suicide, suicidal thoughts
& more. There aren't enough pages in the book to have us become invested in the characters and touch on all of the above topics and do them justice - instead, it half touches on all of them and is just busy and feels cluttered. It is trying to do too much at once.
Because it was trying to cram so much into each page, I wasn't invested in the characters and it made me care less about the story overall.
Also, coming from a queer man living in bushwick from somewhat similar circumstances, I hated the main character. He relied on everyone else and did nothing but pity and feel bad for himself instead of trying to do anything to change his life. He was selfish and self-centered, and how he acted in court destroyed the lives of others to the point of no return. How I am supposed to feel any level of empathy for him, or happiness when he finally sort of gets his shit together at the end, is beyond me.
The religious trauma was a bit trite for a gay character, and I understand the second half was supposed to set it apart from other stories with similar themes - but the second half felt forced, strange, and left me weirded out. I am still not sure what the message was supposed to be, it didn't translate.
With all of that being said, I think if a few of the themes were left out and the author focused on one or two things, it could have been great. For that reason, I have no doubt the author has potential - but I hope in his next book, it feels less crammed.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
foxmulders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest
mothreadsbookssometimes's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
whatskatiereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
melanders_07's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Violence and Stalking
conversion therapy