coldsoup13's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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juliatsang's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I would have loved this book as an emo teenager on tumblr. As an adult, I still enjoy some of the twee writing and feel emotional at *the* moments, but alas, I can tell I have grown. 

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torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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


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izzyhandsapologist's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-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


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bry_on_rye's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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


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elenabluenette's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • 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

2.5


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streebela's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.5


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crusoe's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Positives. Sometimes you have  book cravings for a specific genre and sometimes that genre is 'Queer coming-of-age story about second-generation immigrant teens that asks deep philosophical questions about selfhood and death'. (Also see: Cemetery Boys, They Both Die at the End.) I can tell you: this novel delivered. Dante and Ari's relationship is as complicated as it is sweet, and as they each grow into fully realised human being, they explore what that means for their relationship as friends and as more than friends.

I also really like the setting of this book which takes place in 1987/1988. It explains why Ari drives the type of truck that he does, Dante's fear of not being accepted for his sexuality, the fact Ari and Dante need to send each other letters when Ari is away and the usage of some outdated terms. It makes the novel stand out from novels like it while it was one of the first books in its genre.

Negatives. Because this novel was one of the first in its genre, its concept and execution is not always as intriguing as stories like it. While poetic, the language used is rather simple (which makes sense for a YA book) and that helped me race through the pages. Really, all of these things are personal preference, I really enjoyed this book.

Quote. "'(Ari) I love swimming.' (Dante) 'I know,' I said.  'I love swimming,' he said again. He was quiet for a little while. And then he said: 'I love swimming- and you.' I didn't say anything. 'Swimming and you, Ari. Those are the things I love the most.'"

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ellytheskelly's review against another edition

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fast-paced

4.25

dante > ari tbh 

I wonder if it was from Dante's perspective if it would've been a 5? 

I think the last time i was this captivated by a story was when i was 13 reading wattpad fanfiction. Once this story got me it GOT me and it became really hard to put down.

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evawhite's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-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

3.0


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