Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

19 reviews

joisaddler's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Police brutality

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, and Violence

Minor: Suicide, Blood, and Deportation

aus10england's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow, what a breathtaking inter generational story. The switches of perspective were super fascinating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, and War

Moderate: Hate crime, Blood, Police brutality, and Outing

Minor: Violence

pey333's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Police brutality

Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Deportation

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

There really isn't a lot of YA with Persian representation, especially with characters who go to Iran. I can think of a few, but there isn't a lot. This book is really steeped in Persian culture, especially focusing on current and past events in Iran. The format of following this family through three generations really helps the reader to gain perspective, and each story was just as interesting as the others. 

Each character grows in their own way, and I appreciated the way this book also discussed the reality of queer people in Iran, even today. It truly is a powerful book, and I can see why it is getting so much praise!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Police brutality

Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Violence

Minor: Suicide, Blood, and Deportation

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Deportation

vinodini's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

I cannot recommend this book enough! I loved how this book explored the cultural contrast between Iran and the U.S. in the context of family. You see many different view points through the three main characters. How queerness comes up in their life. It has a very honest look at how white Queer Americans can be short sighted when it comes to understanding intersectional identities. But all the characters who don’t understand certain facets of queerness learn throughout the book. There is so much compassion and love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality

Minor: Suicide

marleywrites's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.5

I loved that while reading this book, not only did I laugh and cry, but I also learned so much about Iranian culture and family dynamics. Three generations of the same family, connected not only by blood but by circumstance. The way the truth tumbled out and how they were so intentional about sharing the truth after years of either avoidance or cover ups was especially beautiful to me. It’s not often we see vulnerable, emotional men in media so I appreciated this loving depiction of this family despite the tenseness as well. 

I really enjoyed the women of this book as well. They were all strong and I loved how they knew what they needed. 

This book was really fantastic and I enjoyed almost everything about it. I was rooting for Moud and Bobby so much, and I was so relieved to see their respective personal relationships develop. Saeed, I had a bit of trouble connecting with due to the homophobia, however I appreciated his character arc and I’m proud of his development. Every queer person knows a young Saeed (circa before accepting his family), and it was both frustrating and interesting to read his thoughts. 

My only question at the end of the book is, did Bobby/Baba make up his illness’s severity? Because he did not seem sick in the book. He used a wheelchair but it did not seem like he was at the end of his life at all. He was still very active and cognizant and he was never taking medications or seeing doctors. I was expecting that to be another focus of the story. 

Overall I was very pleased with this book and devoured it in two days! Looking forward to more from this author. Thank you to Balzar + Bray and NetGalley for this e-arc.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Outing

Moderate: Cancer, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide and Sexual harassment

rachel_23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and War

Minor: Blood, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation