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melodyseestrees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Cultural appropriation
uranaishi'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
peggymay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
oceanelle'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
3.5
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Outing
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
ilutzer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Blood, and Abortion
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault and Abortion
honeyvoiced's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
citrus_seasalt'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
4.75
Anyhow! I loved the setting of this book, too. The Old Hollywood setting starts out with a kind of hypnotic glamour and dazzle, one that Luli quickly finds herself drawn to as a kid first discovering movies. As it goes on, we see parts of this start to fade away because of the disrespect Luli immediately has to learn to defend herself against, and then it takes on a mysterious, almost scary but ultimately alluring image once more of the immortality and supernatural business is introduced. The movies themselves are described a lot, both in general plot description and in production process(depends on their place in the plot), as you get to hear about the pictures that Luli was involved in or grew up with. I also liked that a lot! It was very cool to read about the behind-the-scenes details for these flicks, even if they only exist in-universe. (I was, and am, what you’d call a “theatre kid” so this, naturally, fascinated me.) And with those behind-the-scenes snippets, of course, came different relationships involving our main character and (mainly) her co-stars/workers! Maybe there could’ve been a bit more development on their parts, though, but I overall liked the explorations of the different dynamics captured within the narrative.
I also enjoyed the writing style. It felt lush and lyrical, with an additional bite for when it was most appropriate. Typically I read YA, so this was a nice change of pace, to be reading a distinctly adult book with this style.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy
kingcrookback's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The story really only started to grip me in earnest around the 75% mark, where we started to see conflict between Luli and Tara and the abstraction started to abate a bit. This wasn't for me, but I'll pick up some of Vo's other works and see if they stir up some different feelings.
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy