cappuccino_yuki_teddy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Grief
ridleyreadsthings's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
In the beginning, I wasn't sure how i felt. There was too many pop culture references for my liking, I kept thinking "why though," - BUT then I realised that's exactly how a teens inner monologue would be. Hell, I'm still kind of like that and I'm 28. It was a pretty emotional, inspiring book and it gets 4 stars from me. I loved the characters, especially Kallie. Aiden and Ty were so cute and i loved that they were massive nerds. The group of friends surrounding them were so supportive. The only thing I wish was that Ty had some kind of breakthrough with his dad and AIDEN confronted Christian, and we got a bit more details on Braydens death - although it kind of worked even without details. And a bit more about the conversion therapy camp cause I do feel that kind of fizzled out and it had to be a traumatizing experience, but that relates back to me wanting a confrontation with Tys dad because I would have gone absolutly mental. Great read though I really enjoyed it.
TW for Homophobia and Conversion camp.
TW for Homophobia and Conversion camp.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Bullying
Minor: Emotional abuse
ronniereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Synopsis: Following the death of his boyfriend, Brayden, Tyler is struggling to move on. Brayden’s best friend, Aiden, is also dealing with his death and the plans he and Brayden had for college the next year. The two grieving boys (and once friends) end up reconnecting and each finds themself falling for the other.
Review: this book was the ultimate slow-burn. As it alternates between Tyler and Aiden’s POV, you see how each of them thinks and how they both fall of each other while not letting themselves believe their feelings are real. Personally, I found myself connecting with Aiden a lot. He is a gay POC who enjoys writing. He was a genuine and sweet character. Tyler, on the other hand, was an asshole who I wanted to punch in the face at several instances in the book. The closer I got to the end, I kept thinking that while I wanted both Tyler & Aiden to be happy, Aiden deserved better than Tyler with his childish antics. I get that he was grieving a lost love, but damn! A good thing standing right in front of him and he keeps pushing it away. Again, while I’m happy with the ending, Tyler definitely worked my nerves.
Themes present include: enemies to friends, religious parents, bullying, homophobia, death & grief
Quote I loved:
Review: this book was the ultimate slow-burn. As it alternates between Tyler and Aiden’s POV, you see how each of them thinks and how they both fall of each other while not letting themselves believe their feelings are real. Personally, I found myself connecting with Aiden a lot. He is a gay POC who enjoys writing. He was a genuine and sweet character. Tyler, on the other hand, was an asshole who I wanted to punch in the face at several instances in the book. The closer I got to the end, I kept thinking that while I wanted both Tyler & Aiden to be happy, Aiden deserved better than Tyler with his childish antics. I get that he was grieving a lost love, but damn! A good thing standing right in front of him and he keeps pushing it away. Again, while I’m happy with the ending, Tyler definitely worked my nerves.
Themes present include: enemies to friends, religious parents, bullying, homophobia, death & grief
Quote I loved:
“...so I take out my phone and start scrolling through Instagram. It’s all the same. Lots of super cars, bookstagrammers and their aesthetically pleasing book pictures, and of course a few cute insta boys I’ll never meet.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Sexism
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