anactualbunny's review against another edition
1.0
The worst book I’ve ever read. It’s confusing and I don’t get why it’s being marketed as a Muslim book when the character states they’re not Muslim. There’s a particular scene which will haunt me for the rest of my life before it’s so bad - don’t read this book, save yourself
nowjamie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.75
crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
This was a fun travel based rom-com. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the aspect of the summer in Italy exploration. There is something lovely about getting to see a place through the eyes of a young person stretching their wings. That was one of the things I also liked about Ahmadi's book Down and Across.
The story had multiple perspectives and we were hearing the narration as the family members were being interrogated at the airport so that was unique.
Amir knows that he's gay, but dealing with his family finding pushes him to make some questionable choices. Fortunately, though there are some unhappy coincidences, he also experiences many helpful coincidences too. I thought there was a nice amount of humor, flirting, and romance. It makes for a nice summer read.
This was a fun travel based rom-com. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the aspect of the summer in Italy exploration. There is something lovely about getting to see a place through the eyes of a young person stretching their wings. That was one of the things I also liked about Ahmadi's book Down and Across.
The story had multiple perspectives and we were hearing the narration as the family members were being interrogated at the airport so that was unique.
Amir knows that he's gay, but dealing with his family finding pushes him to make some questionable choices. Fortunately, though there are some unhappy coincidences, he also experiences many helpful coincidences too. I thought there was a nice amount of humor, flirting, and romance. It makes for a nice summer read.
fletchergross's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
5.0
arinreads's review against another edition
4.0
you know how sometimes the most simple things trigger something inside of you? that's what happened. i loved it but i was also a bit hurt by it personally (?) which is a me problem so yeah
anyway, it was a fun read, a unique one, i'd say, so definitely worth picking up!
anyway, it was a fun read, a unique one, i'd say, so definitely worth picking up!
briaraq's review against another edition
3.0
This kinda felt like one of those TV movies you randomly find that leaves you wanting more then you don’t think about it again for 3 years. It was cute though.
readabookorfive's review against another edition
2.0
3.5/5!
trigger warnings; homophobic language, blackmail, racial profiling, religion
How It All Blew Up is a really well rounded novel and I enjoyed my time reading it. Amir was a really good main character to follow and I felt sad for him in some parts and frustrated in other parts about his decisions. I understand why he ran away to Italy but a part of me really didn’t like the fact he left Jackson to have to navigate everything himself.
As a queer, white person from a non religious family I will never understand the fears some people have when coming out to their religious parents and I recognise that privilege and will definitely be amplifying this book because it will be such an important read for so many people. I will also thankfully never understand the fear of being detained at the airport because I have a small argument on a plane because I’m white which is another massive privilege I have. This book really highlighted the prejudices people face simply for the colour of their skin and their race and it’s horrific. Please, world, sort yourself out.
The family Amir finds himself in when in Rome was one of my favourite parts of this book as I’m a very big sucker for the found family trope. They were all wonderful yet flawed and I loved them. They felt like this really wonderful, massive family that Amir was happy with and I loved that for him.
One of my biggest issues with the book was the climax. We go through this entire book not knowing why they’ve been detained but the moment of the argument just comes and then goes again. Maybe this is to show that people truly are detained just for their race, aka for no valid reason.
Also and I cannot stress this enough but it pissed me off. When you have children, they are your children, you are a PARENT before anything else. I don’t care what your religion says, you accept your children for who they are, if they are part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, you accept them. How dare you make your child feel unsafe and like they don’t have a family when coming out is a time they need you the most.
Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed my time reading it!!! I cannot wait to read the authors other works as I’ve been wanting to for a while!!
Thank you to Netgalley and hot key books for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own
trigger warnings; homophobic language, blackmail, racial profiling, religion
How It All Blew Up is a really well rounded novel and I enjoyed my time reading it. Amir was a really good main character to follow and I felt sad for him in some parts and frustrated in other parts about his decisions. I understand why he ran away to Italy but a part of me really didn’t like the fact he left Jackson to have to navigate everything himself.
As a queer, white person from a non religious family I will never understand the fears some people have when coming out to their religious parents and I recognise that privilege and will definitely be amplifying this book because it will be such an important read for so many people. I will also thankfully never understand the fear of being detained at the airport because I have a small argument on a plane because I’m white which is another massive privilege I have. This book really highlighted the prejudices people face simply for the colour of their skin and their race and it’s horrific. Please, world, sort yourself out.
The family Amir finds himself in when in Rome was one of my favourite parts of this book as I’m a very big sucker for the found family trope. They were all wonderful yet flawed and I loved them. They felt like this really wonderful, massive family that Amir was happy with and I loved that for him.
One of my biggest issues with the book was the climax. We go through this entire book not knowing why they’ve been detained but the moment of the argument just comes and then goes again. Maybe this is to show that people truly are detained just for their race, aka for no valid reason.
Also and I cannot stress this enough but it pissed me off. When you have children, they are your children, you are a PARENT before anything else. I don’t care what your religion says, you accept your children for who they are, if they are part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, you accept them. How dare you make your child feel unsafe and like they don’t have a family when coming out is a time they need you the most.
Overall, it was a good book and I enjoyed my time reading it!!! I cannot wait to read the authors other works as I’ve been wanting to for a while!!
Thank you to Netgalley and hot key books for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own
k_readitfirst's review against another edition
3.75
I imagine that this book is catharsis in some aspects so I don't really have much to say, however I wish this was a movie. I really liked it
arenasg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
aclopez6's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book to a degree, but would offer it to students with the caveat of remembering that not all realistic fiction is "realistic", and that Amir makes many questionable and unsafe decisions, but there is still a lot to learn and gain from his story!