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pagelikebooks'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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
ashylibrarian's review
- 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
I love the trans rep. I love the neurodiversity rep. I love the relationships, platonic and romantic. I love the way in which Lore calls out the education system's flaws in teaching reading. Everything else just fell flat. I didn't feel like a lot happened and I was a bit confused by the world under the water.
This won't likely be a go-to recommendation for me, but I'll keep it on my list.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the way gender and its fluidity was discussed in this book, how some days they felt more boy and more girl, and how they interpreted it in terms of "70% boy today".
I have always enjoyed all of Anna-Marie McLemore books, and even though this one followed heavier topics and had a more serious tone, I still had a great time reading it, and it left me with a lot to think about.
The Cover
I adore this cover! The colors on the bottom look so dreamy and trippy and creates an out of body feeling for the illustration. The symbolism of them both being in the water with barnacles growing on them, with maybe an allusion to the fact they are both partially emotionally drowning was extremely well done. It is also a pleasant surprise to see brown characters *actually* be brown and not be white washed.
Cover by
Carolina Rodriguez Fuenmayor
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Transphobia, and Violence
thebookpaiges's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Racism, and Violence
mkachiri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, and Homophobia
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
asexualandriod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Medical content includes therapy sessions and the use of needles for testosterone.thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
the magical elements are very creative here, and i find the lake and alebrijes a wonder, filling the novel w/ cultural elements that also crucially serve as an important metaphor for its themes. and while there's much diversity here, as usual mclemore's a step above many others in imbuing them all w/ complexity and nuance; i learn more abt enby folks, and a lottt abt ADHD and dyslexia reading this (this is the first book ive read that prominently features and explores the latter two, and what an exploration they are). how the theme of coming to terms w/ one's self both past and present is portrayed and explored is also powerful and very relatable, esp lore's story.
despite the aforementioned positives, however, they're outweighed by the negatives. unlike mclemore's other book that ive read, the writing in lakelore isnt particularly special, much less delicate or tinged w/ magic. the breaks in chapters and scenes can also feel disjointed and confusing at times; sometimes i was unclear what timeline i was reading. moreover, lore's and bastian's narrative voices are too similar, and i oft forgot whose POV i was reading, which is a lil concerning esp considering this is a dual POV book. storywise, i understand the concept and scope of it, but somehow feel no connection to or emotional impact from it whatsoever. things always, to use the book's titular setting, skim merely above surface for me, neither delving deep nor soaring high enough to make any kind of impression, in addition to seeming like a halfway between a character study and magic-driven story.
this novel def isnt a bad one - nothing from mclemore can be objectively considered bad tbh - it has great diversity, rep, magical elements, and powerful themes, though i personally find the story a bit lacking and bereft of emotional impact or connection.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
hngisreading'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
caidyn'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism