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mhsopyan_'s review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment
tashtasher's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Classism
anna_l's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
autisticbucky's review against another edition
emotional
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
itac2i's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book, recounts an emotional and sexual love affair between two teenage boys in 1984. It is unimaginably real, and raw, and full of the emotions of youth. Of first love.
In this book, you read of Phillipe’s intense yearning for another boy by the name of Thomas. In spite of believing his desire is one sided, Thomas and him end up having an affair, that seemed only sexual in nature.. until it was just more, for the both of them.
Phillipe goes on to recall this entire encounter and this boy into his adult life, never forgetting this relationship that changed him even as an adult. He never forgets of this boy named Thomas.
This book captures a real and uniquely raw queer experience, and all of the emotions that come with it back in a time when being queer wasn’t something that was possible for just anyone. How someone can suppress such feelings and queerness, and the shame that it causes them to carry. Even without these things being bluntly described it is understood in the context of the words written in this book.
Reading this as queer person myself, this book was very easy to relate to and feel in my very core. Not only the queer aspects, but also the fervent amount of passion and infatuation one feels in their youth. It really hit me a little too hard in the heart. What an emotionally powerful story encapsulating a real, and harder side of the queer experience.
4.5 ⭐️.
In this book, you read of Phillipe’s intense yearning for another boy by the name of Thomas. In spite of believing his desire is one sided, Thomas and him end up having an affair, that seemed only sexual in nature.. until it was just more, for the both of them.
Phillipe goes on to recall this entire encounter and this boy into his adult life, never forgetting this relationship that changed him even as an adult. He never forgets of this boy named Thomas.
This book captures a real and uniquely raw queer experience, and all of the emotions that come with it back in a time when being queer wasn’t something that was possible for just anyone. How someone can suppress such feelings and queerness, and the shame that it causes them to carry. Even without these things being bluntly described it is understood in the context of the words written in this book.
Reading this as queer person myself, this book was very easy to relate to and feel in my very core. Not only the queer aspects, but also the fervent amount of passion and infatuation one feels in their youth. It really hit me a little too hard in the heart. What an emotionally powerful story encapsulating a real, and harder side of the queer experience.
4.5 ⭐️.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Suicide
em_h_ma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hitting a little too close to home. The ending wrecked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
lauren_shilling's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was gorgeously written. I marked so many quotes and passages for the writing alone. I thought that was obviously the strongest part of the book. It was a very quick read because of how short it is, but it was also quite sad, which made it take longer. Not only that, but I wanted to savor the writing, so I allowed myself to take more time with it. The story was amazing as well. I think my main issue with this book is a bit of a disconnect between myself and the characters. I didn't feel for them to the extent that I was hoping to, however I did enjoy reading and learning about them. I honestly couldn't tell you why I struggled to connect with them. I've been in a reading slump for almost the entire year, so that might have something to do with it. However, besides that, I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Suicide
sleepybythelake's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Death of parent
redheadorganist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Alcohol
blues's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ho letto questo libro tutto d'un fiato, lasciandomi trascinare dalla storia. E' stato sicuramente un colpo al cuore, mi ha fatto versare molte lacrime, ma è un libro che consiglierei a tutti, specialmente ai membri della comunità queer. Faccio davvero fatica a trovare le parole per descriverlo.
I miei pensieri vanno a tutte quelle persone che, nonostante non siamo più negli anni '80, continuano a provare sentimenti simili a quelli di Philipphe e Thomas, a tutte quelle persone che per via di una società deviata continuano a reprimere le loro emozioni, i loro sentimenti, le loro identità, nella speranza che prima o poi tutto questo finisca davvero.
I miei pensieri vanno a tutte quelle persone che, nonostante non siamo più negli anni '80, continuano a provare sentimenti simili a quelli di Philipphe e Thomas, a tutte quelle persone che per via di una società deviata continuano a reprimere le loro emozioni, i loro sentimenti, le loro identità, nella speranza che prima o poi tutto questo finisca davvero.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, and Death of parent