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akswhy's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
multenis's review against another edition
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...
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 against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Violence, and Grief
thesvnthsense's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism and Death
ccpprrjj's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I really wanted to like this book. But it just didn't do it for me. The main characters on their own were alright. Both Jeremy and Lucas were interesting and had the potential to be well-developed characters. But then there were aspects of their struggles that weren't explored deeply and personal conflicts that were resolved in a rushed manner or were resolved off-page. And then there was the relationship between the two of them. I was expecting a sort of lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers sort of thing. But the friends step was skipped. Jeremy and Lucas spent all but the last thirty pages of the book hating each other and doing horrible things to each other. They never talked through their issues or had any scenes where they were actually cute together, and then they were kissing and everything was fine. It was a disappointing build-up and conclusion. I did like that Sol won homecoming monarch, though. That was great.
jcsie's review
really didnt vibe with this book, although i love that there‘s trans and autistic rep. i unfortunately immediately regretted bying this book when seeing all the bad reviews and tried it anyways and here we are.
vianadear's review against another edition
1.0
it's so frustrating when the cover is as pretty as this one and then the writing and characters and basically everything is just a huge miss
joyee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.0
infinitechill's review against another edition
I think this book is going to escalate more than I can handle.
carter4ca13's review against another edition
DNF. worst case of “tell, dont show” i’ve seen since the early disney channel shows. idk how it is plot- or character-wise bc i couldn’t make it past the writing :/