Scan barcode
ncq'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Transphobia and Blood
Minor: Racism
madi_oasis'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
4.75
“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.
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 forcaseythereader'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
oliverreeds'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
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
cameronreads's review against another edition
4.0
Watching Bastián properly come to terms with their ADHD was so powerful. They’ve been diagnosed since before the book starts and already have plenty of coping mechanisms - but also many things they still struggle with, one of which being not allowing themselves to come to terms with their bad days and letting that swallow them up. Watching them learn how to communicate and reconcile with themself was exactly what I needed. I may not have ADHD so couldn’t relate to the intricacies of what Bastián was going through, but I am autistic and the broader struggle of coming to terms with having aa neurodivergent brain was explored wonderfully.
Similarly, Lore’s dyslexia was explored very well, and there were some wonderful metaphors and explanations that really helped me, as someone who doesn’t have nor knows anyone who has dyslexia, understand at least a little of what it is like. I think it was really interesting to discover, as Lore does, (potential spoiler here) that it isn’t really the fact they’re dyslexic that bothers them, but rather who people see them as someone with dyslexia (as well as someone who is brown and non-binary).
Personally, I wasn’t that connected to the plot, and whilst this was a bit of an issue for my overall enjoyment of the book, I don’t think it matters for the book as a whole, as really it felt like a metaphor to allow these two characters to come to terms with themselves
The romance, whilst perhaps not necessary, was sweet, and I did really appreciate the open communication at the end.
The writing, whilst not my favourite style, was well done, both as a mode of communicating the discussions it had and creating an atmosphere for the main plot. The characters were relatable and flawed, and we all know those are my two buzzwords for characters.
Overall, this was well-done, and I’d definitely recommend.
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny and Transphobia
Minor: Racism, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria