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cleo_reads's review against another edition
4.75
I loved this queer YA romance between two non-binary, neuro-atypical Mexican American teenagers who share the ability to see the magical world under the lake they live by. The romance is very low-key but delightful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Racism and Transphobia
queen_of_the_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
One of my very favorite books! It can get a little hard to follow at times but that’s only because the book is not supposed to make sense/be literal. It’s a very colorful book with a beautiful story! And I personally really love the ending
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Racism and Transphobia
ncq's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Transphobia and Blood
Minor: Racism
madi_oasis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
Lakelore was a surprise for me, the blurb enticed me but left a lot of the story up to me to read on and discover, which I appreciated.
The interpersonal relationship developing between Lore and Bastián, and their own development as intersectional young people was so beautiful to experience. I teared up and cried several times, mostly toward the ending of the book as the symbolism of the lake and seiches and underwater world became stronger. Several quotes have stuck with me, but the most impactful would have to be:
“You can’t separate everything hard from everything beautiful.” - Bastián
I could connect with these characters on so many levels, and with A.M.’s writing, being a young adult who’s queer and non-binary I felt seen and also felt like I could gain another valuable perspective into the life of the people in my life who have ADHD and dyslexia. This is a must-read if you want to experience queer YA with a character-driven story, believable angst, and LGBTQIA+ hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Mental illness, and Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Blood, and Stalking
I did take a quarter of a star off for the first half of the book being a bit slow, and the shock of some of the triggers that ended up being in the book. I wasn’t prepared forobscurepages's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Okay this was perfection??? 🥹 I've had this on my TBR for quite some time now. Thanks to me being a mood reader (and Libby), I started reading and listening to the audiobook 😂
Three things stand out to me particularly: the poetic prose, the neurodivergent and mental illness rep, and the discussions on gender identity.
The prose is just amazing, and the writing style is so vivid. This book not only gives you incredible imagery (especially when talking about the lake and its magic), but also delves deep into the characters and their thoughts and emotions. I think the narrators also had a part in that, because they really did bring their characters to life. I could feel every emotion in every word as I was listening to the audiobook version. These two nonbinary, neurodivergent, brown kids are so precious and I loved reading/listening to their journey. In more ways than I imagined, I was able to relate to them throughout the book.
The neurodivergent and mental illness rep, I didn't really expect? Or maybe it's just been a while since I read the synopsis 😅 Either way, I thought these were so written so well. I could particularly relate with Bastian and their anxiety. And maybe that lead me to see the plot twist/moral lesson early? But I am definitely not complaining 😭 If anything, it just gave me more affirmation with how I try to deal with <i>*my*</i> own anxiety and stress. And I really really love that.
And of course, the queer rep in this book is just magnificent. There were discussions about gender identity, dysphoria, and experiences. And it just made me appreciate how there's really no singular experience or guideline in being queer or trans or nonbinary. No one can really tell us about our gender except ourselves —it's a spectrum, it comes in waves, and it's beautiful. (My favorite part definitely has to be Lore and Bastian talking about "gender forecasts", and in one scene Bastian says theirs is "nonbinary with a chance of stars" 🥹)
This book is just really precious 😭 and it made me feel tons of emotions, so yes 5 stars 😂
This is also my first audiobook with Vico Ortiz!? Oh my beloved 😭
Three things stand out to me particularly: the poetic prose, the neurodivergent and mental illness rep, and the discussions on gender identity.
The prose is just amazing, and the writing style is so vivid. This book not only gives you incredible imagery (especially when talking about the lake and its magic), but also delves deep into the characters and their thoughts and emotions. I think the narrators also had a part in that, because they really did bring their characters to life. I could feel every emotion in every word as I was listening to the audiobook version. These two nonbinary, neurodivergent, brown kids are so precious and I loved reading/listening to their journey. In more ways than I imagined, I was able to relate to them throughout the book.
The neurodivergent and mental illness rep, I didn't really expect? Or maybe it's just been a while since I read the synopsis 😅 Either way, I thought these were so written so well. I could particularly relate with Bastian and their anxiety. And maybe that lead me to see the plot twist/moral lesson early? But I am definitely not complaining 😭 If anything, it just gave me more affirmation with how I try to deal with <i>*my*</i> own anxiety and stress. And I really really love that.
And of course, the queer rep in this book is just magnificent. There were discussions about gender identity, dysphoria, and experiences. And it just made me appreciate how there's really no singular experience or guideline in being queer or trans or nonbinary. No one can really tell us about our gender except ourselves —it's a spectrum, it comes in waves, and it's beautiful. (My favorite part definitely has to be Lore and Bastian talking about "gender forecasts", and in one scene Bastian says theirs is "nonbinary with a chance of stars" 🥹)
This book is just really precious 😭 and it made me feel tons of emotions, so yes 5 stars 😂
This is also my first audiobook with Vico Ortiz!? Oh my beloved 😭
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Racism, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Transphobia
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Needles/injections (HRT).the_true_monroe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.75
So many people rely on art to process their emotions and cope with a world where they are made to feel that they do not belong, and are treated as: less than, a burden, too much, broken and unnatural.
When we utilize art in this way though, what are we trying to do for ourselves? Are we trying to put the worst of us into a form that we should keep sealed shut like a genie in a bottle and mask, or are we wanting to capture each part of us so we can recognize what is going on in our head, why and how we can process that, or for some other reasons?
This book presents two nonbinary, brown, neurodivergent teens who have a curious and mystical connection with a part of the world others are unable to enter and perceive, that seems to revolve around using art as an escape and release. We see these characters who truly have been growing into their true selves, confronted by things from the past they worked so hard to bury deep down.
I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook, and how aside from a focus on internalized ableism, along with experiences of ableism, racism and transphobia , both main characters have solid, strong support systems and people who really do get them. There is no sugar coating but also so much emphasis on how simple it can be for people to accept you as you are, and learn and grow alongside you.
When we utilize art in this way though, what are we trying to do for ourselves? Are we trying to put the worst of us into a form that we should keep sealed shut like a genie in a bottle and mask, or are we wanting to capture each part of us so we can recognize what is going on in our head, why and how we can process that, or for some other reasons?
This book presents two nonbinary, brown, neurodivergent teens who have a curious and mystical connection with a part of the world others are unable to enter and perceive, that seems to revolve around using art as an escape and release. We see these characters who truly have been growing into their true selves, confronted by things from the past they worked so hard to bury deep down.
I absolutely loved listening to the audiobook, and how aside from a focus on internalized ableism, along with experiences of ableism, racism and transphobia , both main characters have solid, strong support systems and people who really do get them. There is no sugar coating but also so much emphasis on how simple it can be for people to accept you as you are, and learn and grow alongside you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Hate crime, Medical content, and Stalking
lopeared's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
What worked: the thing I’m discovering about Anna-Marie McLemore is that their use of language can be so disarmingly beautiful—like I’ll read a sentence and audibly gasp—but not in a way that feels inaccessible. I’m not looking up every other word or anything, I’ll just think to myself: “what a lovely way to phrase that!”
As someone who is neurodivergent and non-binary myself, I also really identified with a lot of the descriptions of both Bastián’s ADHD and just the overall discussions of gender from both Bastián and Lore’s perspectives. There were so many times that I highlighted things just because it felt like I was reading something that had been taken out of my own brain.
(I’ve also never read a book where dyslexia was described so thoroughly, which I found really helpful because I know very little about how that feels for a person living with it.)
I appreciated that this was a story about accepting the parts of yourself that you wish you could expel. If you’re someone like me, who makes a habit of ruminating on all your bad days or moments, and allowing them to convince you that you’re irredeemable, then you will absolutely resonate with Bastián and Lore.
But what makes this story so powerful is that it reminds those of us with brains we have to put effort into working with, that our bad days are part of us too, and that doesn’t make us any less worthy of love.
“So many of us are haunted by versions of ourselves we wish we could exile. But the pieces of our beings don’t pull apart that easily. If we try to unweave ourselves, we unravel at the edges. So we all do the work of reconciling who we are now with the ghosts we once were.”
It also highlights, quite powerfully, how the bad thoughts and emotions that we attempt to suppress will only reinsert themselves with more force the more we refuse to deal with them.
Now here’s what didn’t work (for me): I struggled with the jumps between chapters more than a few times. The chapters are relatively short—sometimes less than a page long—which is not a problem at all, but the thing is, between chapters the story often jumps rather abruptly, and it wouldn’t be clear how much, if any, time had passed. You wouldn’t be sure if it was just a horizontal jump through space but not time (just a perspective shift from one character to another) or if you jumped forward in time as well.
The second big thing is the pacing lagged. I’d say for a large chunk of the middle part of the story, it didn’t feel like very much was happening and it got repetitive.
I hope that doesn’t sound overly critical or put anyone off. Like I said, the language and the descriptions are lovely, and I think the book has a ton of value, especially for neurodivergent people and the folks who love them. Plus it has a ton of important commentary about racism (one really powerful quote that stuck out to me, was “I’m brown, and trans, and I have a learning disability. My sheer existence is as much nuance as I get to have. Who I am uses up all the space the world is willing to give me, and even that, I have to fight to keep open. I am already a living confrontation. My story doesn’t get to be complicated.”)
It’s a message that I think bears repeating again and again:
“Once you get past the fear of being seen, you can get to the part where you know you’re not alone.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Violence and Injury/Injury detail