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kates_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the start of this book — it was a bit slow but an interesting look into the life of a young boy struggling under the weight of his parents’ and community’ expectations. However, the book quickly became quite depressing. it was frustrating to watch Neil struggle with various forms of addiction. He once says that he feels to much. But I felt a certain toxic masculinity to this statement. There was no accountability for his actions. No desire to learn how to cope. No emotional intelligence. . I did like the ending. We finally saw character growth. Overall I feel like my rating is pretty generous. There were times I almost DNF the book, but despite its darkness, I liked that it was a unique story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, and Alcohol