ela_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Death and Racism
monjure's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Moderate: Death and Racism
antonique_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Murder and Death
iuvmoonie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Death
louise010's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Death
leastsquares's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Racism and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Police brutality
celevstial's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death and Grief
bookishandlegal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wooooowwwww...how I have never read this book?!?!?! This book was SO good and everyone should read it. I'm not a huge romance lover, but gosh this was just so sweet and adorable and I absolutely loved it! The themes of young love and interracial relationships, and being a Black man in America, and family dynamics, and so much more were so well done and so easily integrated into a short book. When I saw the length of the audio I never thought the book would get as deep or as into the characters as it did, but this book was complex and the themes and lessons that came through were deep and profound and just so impactful.
The author has said that this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I knew that and saw a lot of nods to that throughout the book. Even knowing this going in, the ending absolutely gutted me and I did not see it coming until it was on top of me. The way grief was summed up and displayed in about 10 minutes at the end of this book was phenomenal. If you've also somehow missed this book for the past 22 years like I had, please go read it asap!!
The author has said that this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I knew that and saw a lot of nods to that throughout the book. Even knowing this going in, the ending absolutely gutted me and I did not see it coming until it was on top of me. The way grief was summed up and displayed in about 10 minutes at the end of this book was phenomenal. If you've also somehow missed this book for the past 22 years like I had, please go read it asap!!
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Violence
wylovat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Racial slurs
maple_dove's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
Divorce