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laurstars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
bookmorderin's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
andreamhi'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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
nyatsushiro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
cadriley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As with Thirteen Reasons Why, I know many would say this book glorifies suicide, but I think the language used that talks about why people felt the need to attempt to tale their own life and the specific thoughts that went through their head (which often are ones of peace, and yearning) are critical to being realistic and helping people connect with the characters. People who experience mental illness and suicidal ideation do not get to sugarcoat their thoughts and feelings and often don’t realize they are not alone, so I applaud the raw emotion and deep dive into the suicidal mind. That being said, I really think there should be a forward to this book that addresses what readers will witness in the book, in a way that promotes safe messaging around suicide. And I do agree it may be detrimental if someone DOES NOT finish the book as some individual moments in fact would be read as glorifying suicide but again, it is all part of being authentic in portraying the characters experiences.
The only thing I truly did cringe at was some of the unaddressed ableism, such as with the use of the “r” word which I know in 2008 was more widely thrown around but that does not make it any less gross.
Anyway, I think this book takes a bold approach towards addressing very realistic but stigmatized experiences, that while being written with a lot of dark humor, involves a wide range of the strongest and most powerful emotions. There are horrible things that happen but also things that made me so hopeful and glad. I did love the book but also was unsettled by it and uncomfortable… but that was what I needed to feel. I just really need to stress the importance of knowing where you’re at mentally and emotionally when reading this book and checking content warnings if needed.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol
notsosecretbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
daringreader13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
leia_duncan17's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
geeee_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt