elaineyh1216's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt
heatherjchin's review against another edition
DNF at 60% — 50% then 10% at the end.
I got through half this novel before reading some reviews and spoilers because I had to see if all the guesses I had for the story trajectory and character development would come true and yup, they would. And actually ended up worse than I’d imagined. So I jumped to the end and decided to count this as a full Read here to give myself credit for reading through what turned out to be a trope-filled, caricature-heavy, shallow, problematic relationships on all levels, and unrootable-for protagonist novel.
The author does a good job with capturing the headiness and messiness of adolescence and young adulthood, and the emotional struggle between personal and parental dreams, but I couldn’t get past the framing of a lot of toxic relationship dynamics and decisions as just mistakes, excusable, not needing accountability or even to be taken seriously.
I also feel like readers who are not from the Chinese American and Asian American communities would find this more entertaining than many of us who live with the weight of these stereotypes daily.
I got through half this novel before reading some reviews and spoilers because I had to see if all the guesses I had for the story trajectory and character development would come true and yup, they would. And actually ended up worse than I’d imagined. So I jumped to the end and decided to count this as a full Read here to give myself credit for reading through what turned out to be a trope-filled, caricature-heavy, shallow, problematic relationships on all levels, and unrootable-for protagonist novel.
The author does a good job with capturing the headiness and messiness of adolescence and young adulthood, and the emotional struggle between personal and parental dreams, but I couldn’t get past the framing of a lot of toxic relationship dynamics and decisions as just mistakes, excusable, not needing accountability or even to be taken seriously.
I also feel like readers who are not from the Chinese American and Asian American communities would find this more entertaining than many of us who live with the weight of these stereotypes daily.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Classism, Mental illness, and Sexual content
vivthereader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
this book was so amazing! new favourite for sure. i am so happy with the plot! the way Abigail writes paints such a vivid picture in my head, especially of the dance scenes.
Spoiler
i am a little sad cuz i was hardcore in love with xavier, but i really i just want him to be happyModerate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
natverse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have a hard time rating this one. I think this book should have come with several warnings. I don't want to use an over-used word, but I found this book to be extremely triggering and I think some hard topics weren't handled with the care they should have been. It is definitely well written, but it was very hard for me to read through certain scenes and dialogues without knowing there'd be safety in the words at the end.
Minor: Body shaming, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
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