literaried's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Suicide attempt, Ableism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Stalking and Sexual content
olive_lol's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual content, Cursing, and Suicide attempt
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
the book
sheds light on many under- or not-as-deftly explored issues like social justice discourses while also being aware of intersectionality. my fav thing abt it is prolly how chou's satire is also chillingly realistic, humorous is its uncomfortable truths of how minorities grapple w/ them and how far the reach of yts are both in personal relationships and larger institutions.
many of the plot points are predictable, however, and what bothers me most is the scale of the story. tho xiao wen chou is supposedly an ubiquitous cultural force as america's asian american literary wet dream, the consequences/impact from revelations related to him are befuddlingly small, confined to merely a campus and city level where things play out, tho in fact it shouldve been explosive on a national level.
overall, def recommend for truth dropping and enjoyable satire, if one could withhold disbelief abt the story's scale.
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Racial slurs
annoyedhumanoid's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
the plot summary was so fucking promising, but i found the writing to be lacking. i feel like it addressed its heavy topics through regurgitations of already finished conversations, rather than playing out those conversations in real time, if that makes sense. i know it's supposed to be absurdist, but the plot was just off the rails at times. Vivian's character development was very good though, shout out to that. also, the audiobook narration was very bland
cover review: ★★★★½. the illustration is gorgeous, just not a fan of either the typeface or the color of the title and author's name
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Infidelity, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Terminal illness, Vomit, Ableism, Blood, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual content
sydstuck33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Sexual content
harperhoney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Deportation, Addiction, Body shaming, and Colonisation
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Blood, Police brutality, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Ableism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Outing
sydapel's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Racism, Xenophobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Hate crime
Minor: Sexual content
rachaelwho's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Stalking, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Addiction, Racism, Racial slurs, Outing, Misogyny, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Deportation, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
reginahafner_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content