atamano's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Grief, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcohol, Drug use, and Medical content
micklesreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was unbelievably good. Through June's eyes, I felt like I was a teenager again, when everything is changing and everything is life and death, except for June and Finn and Toby, it really is. This was an incredibly moving book that I'm going to be thinking about for a long long time.
Graphic: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Death
carlytenille's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol
cgoiris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
This book ripped my heart out of my chest, tore it to pieces, stomped on it and then glued it back together again more than once. The author does a wonderful job of observing and envoking some of those feelings of what it's like to grow up and how your relationships change, it's hard not to feel it to the core.
Graphic: Terminal illness and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Minor: Violence and Sexual violence
anniey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this was a very nice book. my biggest issue was that though the author says it is an adult book, it definitely feels YA, and young YA. the main character felt very young and it lessened my enjoyment a bit. I also didn’t mesh with the writing style very well. My favorite part was the sister dynamic, which felt very authentic. I also loved the late 80’s setting and the songs that were sprinkled throughout. overall, i enjoyed the book, but I think I would have liked it a lot more if I was a teenager.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol
callikat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
The writing itself is beautiful and the characters are interesting enough, but the weird incest tones (and a vague inclination that that is going to move toward an extremely shitty "forbidden love" comparison to gay relationships, which might be me being hypervigilant but, from a glance over other reviews, does seem to crop up) and dubious handling of HIV/AIDS-related topics is making me think it would probably be better to drop this earlier than later.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Incest, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Ableism
Teenage protagonist is infatuated with her adult uncle; there is no reciprocation, but her feelings are still covered in depth. Death of a family member due to AIDS. Period-typical negative attitudes about AIDS. Brownface is mentioned and the R-slur is used in passing. Underage drinking in at least one scene.
More...