u_0's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book really didn't have a lot to say. I'm really not sure how to rate this book. I'll start with two things I liked: the art and how well it was able to capture the weird feeling of being a kid in the 2010s. Sadly not much else. I'm really disappointed because I saved this book and other of Tamaki's works because I thought they would be favorites : /
This book made me really uncomfortable. First of all, it's hard to sympathize with anyone that has a summer house and can casually afford expensive pomegranate juice. On that note, were the pom juice and Twizzlers an ad? Anyway, this book was so focused on sexual stuff and for what?? The characters are like 10 and they seemingly know a lot about sex, cocaine, herpes, acid, rape kits, porn, etc. and that is like all they talk about. I was like wtf, why was this included?! It would be one thing to use these conversations to normalize children wondering about things adults don't want them to and to emphasize a main theme but that wasn't the case here. Everyone was obsessed with sex but it didn't have any purpose for the plot or storytelling. I'm not quite sure what the plot was to be honest. I also did not like the main character and she was a bad friend, similar to Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me. I also picked up on some subtle fatphobia. Overall, I'm sad to say I didn't like it. I was waiting for the story to conclude with something that would explain the rest of the book, but it didn't get better :/
This book made me really uncomfortable. First of all, it's hard to sympathize with anyone that has a summer house and can casually afford expensive pomegranate juice. On that note, were the pom juice and Twizzlers an ad? Anyway, this book was so focused on sexual stuff and for what?? The characters are like 10 and they seemingly know a lot about sex, cocaine, herpes, acid, rape kits, porn, etc. and that is like all they talk about. I was like wtf, why was this included?! It would be one thing to use these conversations to normalize children wondering about things adults don't want them to and to emphasize a main theme but that wasn't the case here. Everyone was obsessed with sex but it didn't have any purpose for the plot or storytelling. I'm not quite sure what the plot was to be honest. I also did not like the main character and she was a bad friend, similar to Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me. I also picked up on some subtle fatphobia. Overall, I'm sad to say I didn't like it. I was waiting for the story to conclude with something that would explain the rest of the book, but it didn't get better :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Infertility, Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
gem_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Suicide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Grief, Infertility, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
nojerama's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
I've never read a book that so accurately captures what it's like growing from girl to teenager and desperately wanting to be a grown-up, but you also just never want your childhood to end. I want to hug all the women and girls in this book forever. Contrary to almost every other review, I love that "nothing happened". Nothing was supposed to happen. And I love it for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
anniefwrites's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
This was a really beautiful reflection on the intricacies of growing up as a girl. I feel like so many of us have related to both Rose and Windy at different times in our lives. The art style and the language work in so many subtleties that really shook up my subconscious. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Abortion and Alcohol
ratqueen's review against another edition
emotional
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Sexual harassment
More...