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emmaward55's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Such a powerful, gorgeous book.
Juliet's voice is strong and endearing, her questions and natural curiosity revealing the beauty of her mind. I loved how this book rewarded her for seeking answers and wanting to better understand herself, her communities, and the intersection of all the above.
There's so much love crammed into every page of this book and it felt like a lifelong friend at times, one who isn't afraid to shy away from uncomfortable truths and tell you when you need to re-evaluate your shit to grow as a person. This is a book that should be taught in schools.
On top of that, there are so many heartwarming and lighthearted moments that are entwined in the plot and allow the reader moments to breathe. Part of growth is having time to reflect and process new information, and Rivera does that well. She also includes the cutest romantic side plot that had me grinning from ear-to-ear!
I encourage you to read this book, but I also encourage you to seek out reviews and thoughts from BAME and POC readers, especially queer ones. As a white cis lesbian, there are plenty of elements of this book that I can't give you an informed and detailed review of. All I can tell you is that I loved it, and I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
Juliet's voice is strong and endearing, her questions and natural curiosity revealing the beauty of her mind. I loved how this book rewarded her for seeking answers and wanting to better understand herself, her communities, and the intersection of all the above.
There's so much love crammed into every page of this book and it felt like a lifelong friend at times, one who isn't afraid to shy away from uncomfortable truths and tell you when you need to re-evaluate your shit to grow as a person. This is a book that should be taught in schools.
On top of that, there are so many heartwarming and lighthearted moments that are entwined in the plot and allow the reader moments to breathe. Part of growth is having time to reflect and process new information, and Rivera does that well. She also includes the cutest romantic side plot that had me grinning from ear-to-ear!
I encourage you to read this book, but I also encourage you to seek out reviews and thoughts from BAME and POC readers, especially queer ones. As a white cis lesbian, there are plenty of elements of this book that I can't give you an informed and detailed review of. All I can tell you is that I loved it, and I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
Also: needles, drowning, asthma attack / not being able to breathe Re: sexual violence & pedophilia - two separate instances that happened in the past and get briefly recounted, both involve underage girls Re: Suicide - It was a one sentence mention and iirc it was a minor character saying that they're no longer in that frame of mind. Re: Self harm - This was a one off mention from a character we hear about once, and they were saying that they had recovered. No more details were given.