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kananineko's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cursing, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Outing, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
tentwentyfourty's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia
sassyram's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual content
librarymouse's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Outing
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
sirenaluna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Only thing is that I wish the ending had a bit more subtle build up throughout. There were some hints sprinkled in certain parts if you read back but I definitely think there could’ve been more to really drive the ending home. It is still impactful, but could’ve been much more so.
But overall, it is a beautifully story about a complicated family and how the consequences of the parent’s behavior manifest in their children.
As a Puerto Rican myself, I related to and understood a lot of the cultural aspects the book touches on, and especially loved how it critiques the machismo that is so prevalent in minority communities.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
fructosebaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, and Outing
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol
bay22's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Hate crime, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
Near drowning CW. Dental medical injury CW.bail33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Many are rating it lower because of how sad it is, or because they expected typical novel composition, or because of the abruptness of the last chapter. I’ll say that the last chapter doesn’t feel abrupt if you’re picking up on the breadcrumbs left by Torres throughout the latter half of the book; the composition is absolutely perfect for the content, in my opinion because it mirrors the disjointedness that was the life of these brothers; and the sadness makes sense, as the book is loosely based off of Torres’ life and the sadness seems appropriate for the content and the amount he is reflecting on his upbringing. Everything in this novel felt right to me, and all of the artistic choices felt like they fit perfectly.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Abandonment
faythfarrar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Outing
Minor: Sexual assault