Reviews with content warning for Biphobia - An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

As someone who loves Hank Green's YouTube videos, this was a super fun read. The characters are perfectly tuned to the story and the plot is full of element, that peaked my interest individually. It also seems thouroughly researched, everything seeming realistic even if it should happen to be unconventional.

The jokes seemed a bit stiff sometimes (especially in tweets) but I would believe that this wouldn't have happened if the translator chose a more relaxed syntax/punctuation.

The arc of suspense was a bit weak and too straightforward at times, but in the end, it still worked out beautifully and I wouldn't want to change a thing about it!

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mizreads's review

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adventurous funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i have so many thoughts about this book and now i need the next one. anyway some of my fave things:

- its v obvious that robin likes april but i like that he doesn’t reciprocate his flirting and there isn’t any explicitly romantic scenes between them aside from april being frustrated lol. idk why i like that a lot i just do
- i love the idea of the dreams as a kind of shared reality, because april conjectures that it _is_ a reality, because everyone can agree on what they’re seeing, etc. i think this is a fascinating narrative exploration of what “reality” really even means - and ofc the fact that april’s is the only one that has a moving thing in her dreams throws a wrench into this idea philosophically, which makes it even more interesting
- i love april’s character because i honestly see her as almost a cautionary tale for myself. there’s a part of me that craves fame, that wants to go viral, that wants to spread a very similar message as to april’s. but what will it cost?
- i was waiting for a good payoff for april’s whole “im not special. so why did carl choose me?” thing, because the Chosen One trope has been something i’ve been thinking a lot about recently. obv there’s maya’s whole speech about how even though april is at the center (and a vehicle of carl’s puzzles and purpose), she isn’t actually alone in this entire thing. without andy, she couldn’t have gone viral. without miranda, she wouldn’t solved the initial puzzle. without maya, she wouldn’t have figured out the dream sequence. without robin, she would have drowned in the expectations of life. hell, without peter, she wouldn’t have had such an invigorating message. “the only way out is through - and the only way through is together” & “humanity’s superpower is togetherness” as john green says
- frickin’ loved how much i could see hank’s life in here, especially as a long time nerdfighter
- gosh darn it that ENDINGGG

shoutout to the INCREDIBLE voice work by kristen sieh - she encapsulated april’s mannerisms and voice so so well.

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yellowcape's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m so speechless, that was excellent I have nothing to add. I was so worried the hype was BS, now I know it was not. Hank Green, you’re a genius. It’s like this book was MADE for me, helloooo queer people, political tension, a loveable but formidable being who is also perhaps a friend or maybe a foe? UGH LOVE LOVE LOVE.

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persephonefoxx's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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annie_brewer's review

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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javafenn's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I want to give this book all the stars and then some! It kept me completely captivated and the narrator is excellent! Mr. Green’s portion the end was the cherry on top! April May (her name made me giggle and her character is 100% someone who would be named April May) finds a massive 10ft tall sculpture in the streets of New York. She makes a video with her friend Andy that starts a journey she couldn’t have expected. I deeply appreciated how intelligent the science of this books was and felt but also that it wasn’t so nuanced the average person like me couldn’t comprehend it. The little rag tag team of characters felt like actual friends and their troubles also felt relatable. I find it’s hard for male authors to write female characters but I didn’t feel that way with this book. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is truly that, absolutely remarkable. I’m also really glad I have the second book already purchased after that ending which gave me real life goosebumps!

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cozyteareads's review

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I listened to this entire book in less than three days because it just kept me so engaged the entire time. I honestly want to go back through and read it again, but maybe a physical copy with highlighters and a notebook to write down my thoughts as I read because I think the themes are very relevant right now, and it was also just a really good read. Like I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, but I couldn’t put this down.

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