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sarah984's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started out really liking this book and I loved the ending, but there are so many inexplicable writing decisions made in the middle that it wound up disappointing me. The parts about Aria learning to appreciate the perspectives of the adults in her life, going to the dyke march and the music festival, and trying to make art were really compelling but the romance was just... it was bad. The LI is older and already has a girlfriend and it's impossible to see what she could possibly see in this bland 18 year old that would make her act out like that. Aria is also like... there is a scene where she finds out a relative might be dying and all she can think about is cheating with this woman again. Also imo the sex scenes were way too graphic - yeah I'm an adult and I read adult books but also I do not want to know what is going where in YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Dementia, and Classism
rabelais's review against another edition
3.0
While there were some descriptions that were pretty good, a lot of it was pretty clunky. Sometimes it read as if a cishet white man had written it. I didn't expect this from Malinda Lo 😞. Also the main character is pretty transphobic, and though I'm pretty sure Lo didn't shoot for that and probably has no idea that's what she did, it was painfully obvious. This needed more editing and revision. And sensitivity readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia