Scan barcode
rachelfayreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
bookishmillennial'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
This is a reflective coming-of-age young adult/teen fiction story told by Frances and explores themes of sexuality, friendship, identity, virtual spaces, choices, and meaning.
Frances has always been laser-focused on getting into Cambridge, but her best friend Carys ran away (and she knows why), and then she begins working on the anonymous podcast project Universe City, with Aled, Carys’ brother. Aled’s online persona is Radio Silence, and Radio mentions many cryptic messages to February Friday on the podcast. Once the podcast gains traction and one of their identities is revealed, their trust for this new friendship is broken and they must reckon with their uncertain futures alone.
I really appreciated the conversations that Frances had not only with Aled, but with Daniel (Aled’s best friend) & Rain. They discuss miscommunication, relationships, online infamy, curiosity & high school. It felt authentic to how messy high school felt for me, & I’m sure it will ring true for so many others. AO writes incredibly tender stories about young people with great care, & as a chronically online human, I thoroughly enjoyed the commentary on respecting online creators’ privacy & parasocial relationships.
content warnings below ❤️🩹
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship
caiteve12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
mxpringle'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Racism, Suicide, and Acephobia/Arophobia
captainoliimar'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
I really think I would have enjoyed this book while I was doing my A-Levels, though it does cover quite a few potentially triggering topics.
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Stalking and Acephobia/Arophobia
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual harassment
entityj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
nojerama's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
em_davies7019'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing
jil_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Torture, Grief, and Toxic friendship