Reviews

May the Best Man Win by Z.R. Ellor

hadesdaughter's review against another edition

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2.0

No, I'm sorry but no.
I feel really bad every time I give a bad grade to a book because I know the author really did their best. It's amazing how our brains can create a whole world, different characters, plots, scenarios, dialogues, everything and for that I wish I could give 5 stars to every book.

When I read May the Best Man Win synopsis, I thought "Whoa! This is going to be great.". But it wasn't. It was far from great. It was a mix of selfish, arrogant, apathetic characters. At first it was an okay drama (an unfair with a big lack of communication okay drama) but then the whole Homecoming King competition started and it was unbearable. And honestly, they were all so terrible with each other (and I'm not just talking about Lukas and Jeremy) that instead of a happy ending, they should have gotten a happy-discount coupon for therapy.

cupcates's review against another edition

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1.0

yikes

refer to this review for more info. this is bad

aitanaburman's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

valereads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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

3.5

briefcasey's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-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

3.5

dean196717's review against another edition

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fast-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

Alright read but at times felt quite dramatic in its topics and could have explored more inner thoughts in a more nuanced way. Loved that there was autistic representation but felt like the character was very one-dimensional in the presentation of their autism and the same thing happened with the other character being trans. It became the only part of them that was every mentioned without actually being fleshed out as a part of them.

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lovelybookqueen666's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

akswhy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

4.25

A surprisingly deep YA dramedy unafraid to tackle multiple big issues. The main characters are definitely thawed and undoubtedly teenage, but not unrealistically so. They don’t solve problems perfectly and none of them are without fault; that makes all the conflict ring more realistic. A little dated in fashion and technology, but the story doesn’t revolve around either so it’s not a big deal.

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multenis's review

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1.0

There have been books that have made me angrier due to their unlikable characters, and there have been books that have been written worse than this one, and yet... I can't even find a word to describe this book or how it made me feel. Disappointed? Furious?

What's a word one could use in a situation where a representation of themselves (hello, hi, an AFAB very much questioning their gender and struggling with body dysmorphia while also struggling to understand a recent development disability diagnosis) is vilified so much and without showing any redeeming qualities?

I wanted to cheer seeing characters that I could relate to. I wanted to feel seen and understood, and welcomed. And I would have, if not for the main characters being absolutely inhumane pieces of shit, and their friends somehow still supporting them to showcase wokeness.

It's utterly devastating to see a representation of your personal struggles laced with so much negativity. These are not flawed characters on their journey to rediscovering and bettering themselves, no. These are characters that start out bad and end up bad, somehow fucking everyone and everything up in their way, and still ending up with a happy ever after.

And now I have to go and have a long and hard discussion with myself to make sure I don't see myself in these characters, because I don't want to be as terrible as they are, and I don't want to hurt people like they did, and you better hope, Mr. Ellor, that my brain doesn't connect all these fears of being a horrible person with my disability and queerness, you better fucking hope...

hannah_lilli's review

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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

3.0


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